Canada. A Second War, Korean War & Suez Crisis Group, Canadian Army

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; Korea Medal (SB 103855 S W BURKETT); and United Nations Emergency Force Medal (Israel and Egypt 1956-1957). Naming has been erased and mechanically engraved on the KM, the other three medals are un-named as issued. Un-mounted, contact marks and edge nicks on the KM, original ribbons, the KM and UNEFM each with a pinback, fine. Accompanied by his Uniform Name Tag (in black plastic with white text, inscribed "BURKETT", measuring 63.2 mm (w) x 14.3 mm (h), pinback), along with three photographs of Burkett and copies of his Service Records and Certificate of Death.

Footnote: Burkett was a resident of Edmonton, Alberta when he joined the Canadian Militia (447916, which was changed to SM103855), signing his Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada Attestation Paper in October 1940 with the Edmonton Fusiliers, at the age of 24. Almost two years later, Burkett enlisted in the Canadian Army, signing his Attestation Paper on September 2, 1942 in Edmonton, at the age of 26, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Bessie Burkett, stating that he was Single, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Baker. He was subsequently allocated to the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, where he completed corps training and qualified as a Cook. This allowed him to be employed as a Baker throughout his wartime service. He was hospitalized for four days at Peace River Military Hospital, from November 25 to 19, 1942. His wartime service would total four years, serving until May 15, 1946. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, number 1080290, which was issued to him on July 1, 1946. He was in the Interim Force from May 16, 1946 to September 30, 1946. Burkett came to Shilo, Manitoba in October 1946, re-engaging in the Canadian Armed Forces on October 1, 1946, as a Cook Group II. He would re-qualify under 1946 standards as a Cook Group II on August 22, 1947. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on March 1, 1949 and qualified as Cook Group III on December 1, 1951. Corporal Burkett was with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery when he embarked North America for service in the Korean War on March 29, 1952. He was struck off strength to the Canadian Army Far East on March 30th, disembarking in Japan on April 12th and arriving in Korea on the 19th. During his time in the Korean theatre, he was promoted to the ranks of Temporary Sergeant on August 29, 1952 and to Sub Sergeant on November 27, 1952. Burkett would serve in Korea for two years, until April 26, 1953, returning to Japan on the 27th. He was struck off strength to Canada on May 2, 1953 and arrived home on the 15th. He would pass both the Senior NCO course on October 24, 1953 and the Hospital Cook course on May 8, 1954.

For his Korean War service, Burkett was awarded the United Nations Service Medal for Korea on December 18, 1953 and the Korea Medal on September 7, 1954. He was promoted to the ranks of Acting Staff Sergeant on September 1, 1955 and to Sub Staff Sergeant on April 2, 1956, after which he was transferred to the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, where he would remain until March 1961. It was here that he passed the Kitchen Management course on October 1, 1957 and qualified as a Cook Group IV on February 28, 1958. Burkett was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Second Class on March 1, 1961, just before departing for the Middle East as part of the United Nations Emergency Force team, leaving Canada on March 8th and disembarking in Egypt on the 12th. After ten months, he left the Middle East on January 11, 1962, arriving in Canada on the 13th. For his Middle East service, he was awarded the United Nations Emergency Force Medal on June 7, 1961. Upon returning to Canada, he was posted to 2 Canadian Guards at Camp Petawawa, where he would remain until September 1965. It was here that he was re-mustered from Cook Group IV to Master Cook Group IV on August 15, 1962. Burkett was struck off strength to CFB Edmonton from the Alberta District on December 11, 1966. He had applied for the Canadian Forces' Decoration on July 31, 1957, which was awarded to him on April 18, 1961. In his Personnel Selection Report, dated May 17, 1967, while at CFB Edmonton, it was noted that Warrant Officer Second Class Burkett was "awarded a change of medical category with a restriction to base duties only with regular follow-up. Under this new category WO2 Burkett does not meet the medical standards for his trade, however he is continuing to provide good service to the Canadian Army at this Base and his medical restrictions did not prevent him from being employed as Food Services Officer at CFB Wainwright this summer". It went on to state that "WO2 Burkett will reach CRA (Compulsory Retirement Age) on August 18, 1968 and as he is most capable of performing in his capacity of Master Cook at CFB Edmonton and as he is not having any medical difficulties it is strongly recommended that he be retained in the Service until he reaches CRA". His service with the Canadian Army would entail almost twenty-eight years, which included the Edmonton Fusiliers, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, the Royal Military Collage and the 2 Canadian Guards. He died on December 24, 1981 in Edmonton, at the age of 65.