Help please. Need to confirm two Met Police medals.

[azyeoman]

I recently acquired a nice medal group consisting of the following:

QSA: CC, OFS, TR – 74907 GNR. S. BURK, R.H.A.
KSA: SA01, SA02 – 74907 GNR. S. BURK, R.H.A.
1897 Jubilee (Met) – P.C. S. Burk. X DIVn
1911 Coronation (Met) – P.C. S. Burk.

I have found out a considerable amount regarding his QSA & KSA and have also learned that his name is Samuel Burk and that he was a Police Constable in the Acton Division, which I believe is X Division from what is on his 1897 Jubilee Medal. I don't have any details as to his badge number etc for him as a PC nor any copies of the rolls definitively mentioning him as being awarded the '97 Jubilee and the '11 Coronations medals (Metropolitan Police issues). I'm certain he was, but like to have copies of the pages to go along with the file that I build for each medal recipient. Any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated. I also know where he is buried, but unfortunately there isn't a photo of his headstone on Find A Grave. I've added three attachements regarding Pte/PC Samual Burk as they are interesting. There's also a photo of his group, which badly needs cleaning as I'm sure he'd never have worn them looking like they presently do.
Thanks in advance and all the best.

[Nick]

Samuel Burk Warrant No 82030 joined 22/03/1897 retired 27/03/1922 X Division. Entitled to 1897 and 1911 medals.

[azyeoman]

13 hours ago, Nick said:

Samuel Burk Warrant No 82030 joined 22/03/1897 retired 27/03/1922 X Division. Entitled to 1897 and 1911 medals.

Thank you very much!!! 🍻

[oamotme]

John,

Good morning from Ealing London,

Acton is 'next' to Ealing and if your man, from Acton, is buried in Acton I could go on a walkabout and try to find his grave.

Let me have the details.

Trust all is well,

Owain

[azyeoman]

8 hours ago, oamotme said:

John,

Good morning from Ealing London,

Acton is 'next' to Ealing and if your man, from Acton, is buried in Acton I could go on a walkabout and try to find his grave.

Let me have the details.

Trust all is well,

Owain

Good morning Owain,

It's always good to hear from you.  I hope and trust you and your family are well and having a good year!  That's very kind and generous of you to have a look and find Samuel Roskilly Burk's grave.  The only info I have is from the article, which states, that his service was in Acton Parish Church and the burial was at the "Old Cemetery, Churchfield Road".  I looked it up and this is what I came across: https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/st-marys-burial-ground-rest-garden

 

In 1979 the cemetery was partly cleared to make a public garden laid out with a paved area, raised planters and seating along the Churchfield Road boundary; headstones largely against the perimeter walls although some remain scattered among the grass in which there are also various trees and a number of flower beds; a tarmac path between the two entrances. The site is bounded by iron railings along Churchfield Road and part of the east boundary, with an iron entrance gate from Churchfield Road; brick walls predominantly around rest of the site.

 

St Mary's Burial Ground was established here in 1863 on 1 acre of land that was purchased by the Acton Vestry to provide additional burial land for the parish church of St Mary. The land had been part of a field called Conduit Close that had a number of springs, providing the village with water. By 1929 the cemetery was almost full. In 1979 it converted into a public garden laid out with a paved area, raised planters and seating along the Churchfield Road boundary. It was partly cleared, with headstones largely set against the perimeter walls although some remain scattered among the grass.

 

Perhaps his headstone is along the perimeter or one of the ones scattered among the grass.  It would be wonderful to photograph it.  Thanks so much in advance for having a walkabout and a look.  I appreciate it very much!

All the best,

John

[oamotme]

John,

I know where the cemetery is and have walked though it in the past - it is not large and also not looked after but we shall see. I shall try in the next couple of weeks to make a visit. As you will appreciate SR Burk is not going anywhere!

Regards,

Owain

 

Edited January 30 by oamotme

[oamotme]

John,

What are his dates of birth and death?

Owain

[azyeoman]

Hi Owain,

He was born in 1874 and died on 05 Feb. (02) 1929 when only 56 years old.  

Fingers crossed his tombstone is there. It's always nice to have a photo of the recipient and his grave.

Cheers and thanks a million,

John

[oamotme]

John,

This morning I walked to the cemetery - about 30 minutes walk.

Alas I could find no gravestone to Burk and a I looked at every single one.

As you can see from the attached pictures the cemetery is not very large and there are not many gravestones. A number of stones are in situ and others are around the perimeter wall. A few stones have fallen over and a number are illegible - these appear to be 19th century.  As Burk died in 1929 and headstones from this period appear to be holding up against the elements, I would suggest that it is more than likely his grave may not have been marked by a headstone.

Somewhere in some London archive will exist a plot map of the cemetery - if this can be found then the precise location of Burks grave can be identified.

Owain

PS I also attach a picture of the Commonwealth War Grave memorial  - even the three men mentioned here do not have individual headstones. 

And two more images, Owain

[azyeoman]

Hi Owain,

I sincerely appreciate you taking your time and looking for Burk’s grave. It’s a shame there’s no headstone, but over the years, unless CGWC related, I’ve found very few of them.  It makes you wonder what percentage of people were buried in unmarked graves.  I presume headstones must have been expensive and in1929, with the depression, we’re likely to have been considered much too expensive in light of the economy. 
 

thanks so very much! 
cheers, John

[oamotme]

John,

I suspect that when you compare in any cemetery gravestones numbers to burials there is a vast discrepancy and even taking into account multiple inscriptions the number of unmarked burials significantly out number the names recorded on headstones. Thus the cemetery records and maps are essential research.

As a case in point I knew my great great grandfather is buried at Nunhead in south London - some 250,000 burials - if it was not for the detailed plot map and register I would not have found the location of his 1878 grave. He is buried with his youngest son and his brother in law - three burials no headstone. Why? I have no idea as his son my great grandfather was not short of money. 

All sorts of reasons for no stones - expense, poverty, no relatives, family disputes, conscious decision, re-use of grave, destruction or relocation or reuse (as paving) of headstone, etc.

Regards,

Owain