Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Canadian Shooting History - Desmond Burke

Today was a great day at the range. I took a brand new 22 Hornet out to sight in the scope. I fired two shots and had a small mechanical problem. As I was attempting to fix things, an older fellow I know said, "I have something for you." It was a book.

It was written by Desmond Burke, who was born in Ottawa, and an accomplished shooter (and doctor). Links below. It's possible that some of you may have heard of him. The fellow who gave this to me said that he was at a gun show recently and this book was returned to him. It was an autographed copy originally given to him by the author. They knew each other years ago before his death in 1973.

Please check the links. Lt. Col. Burke is a part of Canadian history. Among his accomplishments, he was the youngest to win the King’s Prize at Bisley, in 1924, at age 19 or 20.






https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_T._Burke

https://www.queensmedal.net/files/burke.htm

https://www.sportshall.ca/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-search.html?proID=416&lang=EN

Very cool! That should be a good read. I grew up in Goffstown NH, the home town of Ned Roberts. My wifes grandfather new him fairly well. They were a different breed, I think alot of what they learned was by trial and error.

Wouldn't it be nice to go back to those times for a few days and just look around?

Sure would, I remember as a kid, listening to the old timers at the fish and game club. This was late 50's, early 60's I was fascinated by some of their stories. Some of them were active in the shooting sports, at the turn of the century. I wish someone had documented some of their stories.