Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of John Bourke, of Cobbora, New South Wales, Australia, and the late Catherine Jane Bourke nee Woods.

Enlisted 8 April 1916 2nd Battalion 3rd New Zealand Rife Brigade

LATE PRIVATE GEORGE
BOURKE.
Mrs. J. W. Williams, of Cowra, sister of the late  Private George Bourke, a native of Wellington district, who was killed in action at the front over two years ago,  has received the follow ing letter from his chum,  Private. W. D. . Benbow, who recently returned to his 
home in Now Zealand.
Armondville N.Z,
August 24, 1919.
Dear Mrs. Williams,— A few lines in reply to your most welcome letter which I received some days ago. I am  very pleased to hear from you, as you are a sister of  my best friend, George. Poor old George was one of the best mates I ever picked up with. I am very sorry  the poor chap never had the luck to get back. He was  more like a brother to me than a mate, through working with us so long. The poor chap took it very  hard when he couldn't get away with us when we left  New Zealand. I was very lucky to see George the first  day he went into the trenches, and I often saw him  after that. About those photos, I can't say who the  chaps are with him, but if you could get one copied  from it and send it over, so that I could see it, it is most likely I will know who they are I have a photo of  George. You asked me where George was buried. Well, as far as I know he was buried not very far from my  brother, as they were not more than 200 yards away from one another, and that is close to the Cathedral at Messines village. I enquired from a chap that was in  the same company as George, and that was what he  told me. I saw George while the battle was going on,  as I happened to be going after some stretchers to carry the wounded out, and we had a talk for a few  minutes, and that was the last I saw of poor old George. One chap told me that Goorge got wounded in the body somewhere and bled to death before they  found him. It was late in the afternoon when I got buried and squashed, and two or three days passed  before I knew anything much, and it was five weeks  after be fore I knew either my brother or George was  killed. It gave me a great shock when I know both the poor chaps were gone. George's battalion colors were  a black square on both shoulders. I haven't got a  badge or else I would send you one. If I happen to get one I will send it over. I have seen your brother Jack  once or twice since I have been back. Well, Mrs.  Williams, I have great sympathy for you at the loss of  your poor mother. I am get ting on very well now, but  I will never be as strong as I used to be. I am taking  up a small farm here. It won't bo quite so hard as it  used to be be fore the war.

 Wellington Times (NSW : 1899 - 1954)  
 Thu 25 Sept 1919  
 Page 5