A tribute to a Highlander
Efforts of George Burke and his fellow Cape Bretoners must be remembered forever
The Feb. 3 edition of the Cape Breton Post featured the obituary of 94-year-old George Burke, a Second World War veteran of action with the Cape Breton Highlanders in Italy and northwest Europe. This year is the 70th anniversary of the end of ‘the war’ and is an opportune time for us to remember such veterans as Burke and his comrades who fought to defeat the enemy and to preserve Canada as a democratic country.
Burke, a native of Lower L’Ardoise, Richmond County, described himself as a “proud Cape Breton Highlander” and he was right to do that. Together with other men from all parts of Cape Breton Island, he responded to the call to fight for King and Country.
In research for our book "The Breed of Manly Men: The History of the Cape Breton Highlanders," co-author Ted Slaney (himself a CBH war veteran) and I were told time after time of the spirit of these “kilt-wearers” who from time to time quarrelled among themselves but who were resolute in the face of enemy fire.
The soldiers of the Cape Breton Highlanders trained in Canada and in England before seeing their first action in Italy in January 1944. That baptism of fire resulted in the death of 13 soldiers and the wounding of 33 of their fellow Cape Breton Highlanders. Looking at the dead and wounded, one Highlander remarked “Sir, this is serious business.”
Pte. George Burke knew it was serious business indeed. He served as D Company signaller and accompanied company commander Maj. Carl Arnold virtually everywhere on the battlefield. His duties were to transmit orders from Arnold to the subordinate platoon commanders, pass on their replies and, generally, to keep track of the radio traffic and to ensure Arnold was appropriately informed of developments.
Being a radio operator in battle is “serious business” itself. Indeed, the commanding officer of the Cape Breton Highlanders informed his brigade commander that every time a radio antenna became visible, the enemy shot at it. Thus, Burke took great care not to place himself at unnecessary risk.
The relationship of a signaller and his company signaller must be close and each must have supreme confidence in the other.
In September 1944, Burke and Arnold were involved in the battle for Hill 120 — “one of their worst encounters of the whole war.”
Moving on from that fight, Burke learned a valuable lesson.
In his own words, as noted in "The Breed of Manly Men":
"On the advance from Hill 120, we were held up by sniper fire. Maj. Arnold told me to radio for tanks as we could not see where the fire was coming from.
The tank crew blew a hole in the house and the Germans came over waving a white flag. We started advancing and came upon an enemy soldier laying on the ground and an officer, both badly wounded.
The soldier asked for water and one of our men reached down with his water bottle to give the German a drink when our sergeant lifted him up and found that he was holding a loaded P38 pistol. The officer had a pistol concealed in his tunic. I learned never to trust the enemy, especially when he is at death’s door."
Burke also took part in the last Cape Breton Highlanders battle of the war — the liberation of the Dutch town of Delfziel in a fierce fight.
The CBH soldiers knew the end was coming but they were opposed by determined German soldiers who did not want to lose possession of the town. In the end, the Cape Breton Highlanders prevailed and earned the ever-lasting thanks of the Delfziel citizens. For his part, Burke was extremely saddened that so many of the CBH lost their lives so close to the end of hostilities.
The efforts of George Burke and his fellow Cape Bretoners must be remembered forever. Burke took part in Cape Breton Highlanders annual reunions where friendships were renewed and stories exchanged.
In the autumn of each year, the current members of the Cape Breton Highlanders and an ever-decreasing number of war veterans take part in a ceremony of commemoration and remembrance at the Cape Breton Highlanders monument on Kings Road.
One of the best ways we can honour Burke and the accomplishments of the Cape Breton Highlanders is to attend that ceremony. We should also keep in mind, forever, the sacrifices of all Cape Breton Highlanders.