Burke, Cuthbert Worcester Graham
Personal Information
Rank | WO2 |
Forename(s) | Cuthbert Worcester Graham |
Surname | Burke |
Gender | M |
Age | 29 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Graham Burke and Alberta Burke (née Brown), of Astoria, Queens, New York City, USA. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HE592 |
Markings | KW-Q |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Nijmegen |
Grave Reference | 24. D. 1. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 138 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/95765 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 425 (Alouette) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Panama |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed metal plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Miscellaneous Information
Cuthbert was born on 16 December 1913 in Panama City, Republic of Panama. His father was born in England and was an engineer, his mother was born in Jamaica. Both parents were deceased by the time of his enlistment and he gave his next of kin on his enlistment papers as his married sister Frances, wife of the Rev. Walter George Kings (archdeacon). She was born in New York. He was sent to England at the age of sixteen where he had his education. He was at Cristobal High School and King’s School in Peterborough 1930-1933, followed by St.Augustine’s College , Canterbury, 1933-1935 where he studied theology. Cuthbert then spent 1936 travelling, and then two and a half years at a Monastery in the U.S. His sport interests were field hockey, rugby and cricket, his hobby being reading. He went to work at a Church Charity Foundation in Brooklyn, New York where he was a waiter in the cafe and assistant storekeeper. He then took ten days leave. |
He enlisted on 25 March 1941 and embarked from Canada on 1 May 1942. He arrived at 3 PRC on 12 May 1942, 9(0)AFU 9 June 1942, 23 OTU 14 July 1942 and 425 Squadron 16 September 1942. |
His enlistment papers described him as a 'lad of considerably better than average intelligence. Is very serious. Emotional stability and general adjustment- not more than average. Self-confidence- average. Rather given to introspection and philosophical considering'. The interviewing officer described him as 'Intelligent, well mannered, fine appearance and gentlemanly. Can be recommended as a good candidate'. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-04-1943 |
End Date | 09-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Dishforth |
Day/Night Raid | Night (18% moon) |
Operation | Duisburg. 392 aircraft, 19 losses (4.8%). Thick cloud again hampered PFF marking activities and as a result the bombing was scattered. Only moderate damage reported |
Reason for Loss | Crashed in the SE suburbs of Venlo, Holland |