大象传媒

Arthur Burke was born in 1894 at the Borough Hotel in the shadow of Salford Cathedral. He went to grammar school before beginning work as a clerk.

Arthur volunteered to join the army and after training arrived in France in late 1915. He served on the Western Front with the 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, known as the 5th City Pals.

Arthur's letters back to his family reflect the harsh nature of the Western Front. In 1915, he was an idealistic volunteer who saw the war as a righteous cause. But after experiencing the fighting and losing friends on the Somme in 1916, Arthur became fully aware of the dangers. He was killed in 1917 as he carried rations back to the trenches.

Location: Encombe Place, Salford, Manchester M3 6FJ
Image: Arthur Burke, courtesy of IWM