Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

'QUEENSLAND TELEGRAMS.

ALLORA, October 18.
The following members of the Allora detachment from G Company passed the medical examination yesterday :- J. Banks, C. Bourne, J. Burge, A. Cameron, G. Hutton, T. Kennedy, S. Washbourne, W. Stewart, R. Stewart, R. Thompson, and A. White. The men were complimented by Captain Chauvel, when on parade, for their smart appearance. A complimentary banquet tendered to the troops by the citizens of Allora will take place to-night.' from The Brisbane Courier 19 Oct 1899 (nla.gov.au)

'COUNTRY VOLUNTEERS.

CUNNAMULLA, October 18.
Mr. C. H. Bourne, Crown Land Ranger for the past five years, has resigned, and left by to-days mail train to report to headquarters for duty with the remount unit and otherwise. He has had previous experience as a volunteer and also service in the Boer war.' from The Brisbane Courier 19 Oct 1915 (nla.gov.au)

'PUBLIC NOTICES.
2ND REMOUNT UNIT, A.I.F.

60 PERSONNEL, including Ten Shoelng-smlths, are required for the
above Unit; age, between 40 and 50.
Apply, personally, to Remount Unit Office, Victoria Barracks.
C. H. BOURNE, Lieut.,
For C.O., 2nd Remount Unit.' from Daily Standard 5 Nov 1915 (nla.gov.au)

'PERSONAL NOTES.

Mr Charles Bourne, Brookes-street, Valley, has received word that his youngest son, Driver George Bourne, was admitted to Norwich Hospital on January 4, suffering from the effects of shell shock. Another son, Corporal A. E. Bourne, Imperial Camel Corps, is in hospital suffering from wounds received in Palestine on November 11. Mr Bourne has two other sons at the Front - Corporal H. Bourne, A.A.M.C., who was slightly wounded at Gallipoli and is somewhere in France and Lieutenant C. H. Bourne, of the Remount Unit, who has been in Egypt for the past two years. Another son, Captain J. F. Bourne, has successfully passed through the officers' training school at Duntroon and is waiting an appointment in the A.I.F.' from The Brisbane Courier 21 Jan 1918 (nla.gov.au)

'PERSONAL NOTES.

Mrs. C. H. Bourne, of Jeays-street, Bowen Hills, has received a cablegram from Egypt, intimating that her husband Captain C. H. Bourne, has been promoted to the rank of Major. Major Bourne served through the Boer War in South Africa with the first Queensland Contingent, and enlisted in the A.I.F. as lieutenant in 1915. He is the eldest son of Mr. C. Bourne, Brookes-street, and is a native of Allora, and one of five brothers in the A.I.F.' from The Brisbane Courier 6 Jun 1918 (nla.gov.au)

'Longreach Items.

Mr. C. H. Bourne, who succeeds Mr. J. D. Kidd as Crown Lands Ranger here, arrived on Monday night, and has taken up his duties. Mr. Bourne held the rank of Colonel in the late war, and went through the fighting in Egypt.' from The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts 10 Jan 1920 (nla.gov.au)

Charles Henry Bourne served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 83, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer War. Second service was as a Lieutenant rising to Lieutenant Colonel, 2nd Remount Unit (Australian Remount Depot) AIF, WW1.

When he first enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private C. H. Bourne, single, East Talgai, Hendon. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 12 it is noted he directed part of his pay to Mr. C. Bourne (his father), East Talgai, Hendon.

He served the full tour of the 1st QMI, but having contracted enteric fever, he returned to Australia after the main body of the contingent and was discharged in Brisbane on 31 Jan 1901. His service is recognised on the Allora Boer War Memorial with his name, C. H. Bourne, inscribed on the tablet containing names of Allora men who fought in the South African Boer War.

In 1915 he applied for a commission to serve in WW1, which was approved at the rank of Lieutenant. On his application for a commission form, dated 23 Sep 1915, he recorded that; he was born on 28 December (1878) and was 36 years 10 months of age; he was married and employed as a Crown Lands Ranger at Cunnamulla; his N.O.K. was his wife Edith Bourne, Cunnamulla; and he had previously served in the 1st QMI in South Africa.

The Brisbane Courier reported on 19 Oct 1915- Cunnamulla, October 18. Mr. C. H. Bourne, Crown Land Ranger for the past five years, has resigned, and left by to-day's mail train to report to headquarters for duty with the remount unit and otherwise. He has had previous experience as a volunteer, and also service in the Boer war.

Appointed as a Troop Officer with the Australian Remount Depot he embarked from Sydney arriving at Suez, Egypt, on 22 Dec 1915. He rose through the ranks on active service appointed Captain on 23 Oct 1917, Major on 24 Apr 1918, and Lieutenant Colonel on 14 Mar 1919. He embarked from Egypt on 26 Jul 1919 aboard H.T. Burma to return to Australia arriving at Melbourne on 29 Aug 1919 with his appointment terminated on 26 Oct 1919.

Charles Henry Bourne was born on 28 Dec 1878 at Hendon, a son to Charles Bourne and Matilda Bourne (nee Handel). He married Edith Barron on 20 Sep 1910 at St Alban's Church, Gatton, and they had 3 children.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 452; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 12; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record; National Archives Australia- Military Officers Record).