BOURKE, Charles
| Service Number: | 699 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914, Kensington |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Canowindra, New South Wales, Australia, 6 January 1895 |
| Home Town: | Lithgow, Lithgow, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Compositor |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 21 July 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lithgow War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 699, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Kensington | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 699, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 699, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 699, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 2 Jul 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 699, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW head and shoulder | |
| 17 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Jul 1916: | Involvement Corporal, 699, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 699 awm_unit: 3 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-07-21 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Word came to Forbes on Saturday, August 5th 1916 that Corporal Charles Bourke, a well-known Forbes resident, had been killed in action in France. The young soldier was 21 years of age, and was a son of Mr John and Mrs Sarah Bourke, who lived near the Forbes gas works for a time, and who left for Lithgow about six years ago. Their son Charlie went with them, but subsequently returned to Forbes, where he worked at the ''Gazette" office until August 1914, when he heard and answered the call. Going straight into camp, he sailed for Egypt, and was in the original landing at Gallipoli, being a member of the famous third brigade. He was at Gallipoli for ten weeks without a spell but was forced to quit owing to being wounded in the scalp and shoulder by sniper's bullets. After a time in hospital he returned to Gallipoli, where he remained until the evacuation. When next heard of Corporal Bourke was in France, having gone there with the first batch of Australians. In France he was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and a promising career was ended on July 21st, when he was killed in action at Pozieres.
The late Corporal Bourke, prior to enlisting, was a member of the Forbes militia, and was a much valued subordinate to the late Lieutenant Barton, whom he met at Gallipoli prior to the latter's death. He was a member of the Church of England choir, and at his profession his employer, Mr S. S. Smith, proprietor of Forbes "Gazette," speaks in the highest terms. Reliable, honest, straight-forward, a good tradesman, with a knowledge of his business seldom acquired by others of older growth, young Bourke was held in the highest esteem by his employer and the hands. In fact, when he enlisted, Corporal Bourke had ten months of apprenticeship to complete, but not desiring to place any obstacles in his way, Mr Smith endorsed his indentures, and told him the position of a fully qualified compositor would be open for him should he return. Unfortunately, the lad was destined never to return to his native town.
At the meeting of Jemalong Shire Council on Saturday, it was decided to forward a letter of sympathy to deceased's parents. As a token of respect, the flag at the town hall was flown at half-mast.
Source: The Forbes Advocate, 8 August 1916 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100279377
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