O'ROURKE, Thomas James
| Service Number: | 2371 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 June 1916, 13th Infantry |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Quirindi, New South Wales, Australia, April 1896 |
| Home Town: | Quirindi, Liverpool Plains, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 30 July 1946, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CATHOLIC 2-51. 90. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jun 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2371, 35th Infantry Battalion, 13th Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2371, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2371, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 9 Nov 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 2371, 13th Infantry Battalion, 2 MD |
Help us honour Thomas James O'Rourke's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
79 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 15th July 1946, Driver Thomas James O'Rourke, 13th Battalion (Reg No-2371), plumber from Henry Street, Quirindi, New South Wales and 76 Church Street, Newcastle, N.S.W., father of three (Terry, Tom & Isabel), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 50. CATHOLIC 2-51. 90.
Born at Quirindi, New South Wales possibly April? 1896? to Walter and Margaret O'Rourke; husband of Euphemia (Effie) Cooper O'Rourke nee O'Hara, married 30.4.1919 at St Mary's Cathedral, Huntly Street, Aberdeen, Scotland, died 31.5.1974, Newcastle, N.S.W., age 79, 27 years a widow, sleeping here, Tom enlisted on the 20th June 1916 with the 35th Battalion at Broadmeadow, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 17th October 1916.
Disembarked Plymouth, England 9.1.1917.
Transferred to 13th Battalion 7.5.1917.
Granted leave to England from 7.3.1918 to 23.3.1918 and 19.1.1919 to 12.2.1919.
Commenced return to Australia 8.8.1919.
Tom arrived home on the 25th September 1919 with wife Effie, being discharged on the 9th November 1919.
Mr. O'Rourke’s name has been inscribed on the Quirindi and Werris Creek Municipal District First World War Roll of Honor and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall. Name not inscribed on the Quirindi and District Memorial.
I have placed poppies at Tom’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Service record states Died after Discharge, 13/7/1946.
Officially commemorated – https://connect.dva.gov.au/.../viewCommemoration.html....
Older brother Herbert Francis O'Rourke, born Quirindi? New South Wales December? 1892?, drover from Oakey, Queensland, enlisted 17.5.1915, 26th Battalion, Reg No-587, wounded in action - 3.5.1917 (GSW right arm, mild), 3.10.1918 (GSW neck & back), RTA 29.1.1919, died?, not officially commemorated.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered“.
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/.
Lest We Forget.
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