War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Reverted for being absent without leave, Lemnos, 23 July 1915.

Admitted to No 1 Stationary Hospital, Lemnos, 6 August 1915 (septic leg).

Embarked Mudros on HS 'Franconia' and proceeded to England, 24 August 1915; admitted to King George Hospital, London, 9 September 1915.

Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force to continue medical studies, London, 14 January 1916. Letter from Private John Bourke to Lieutenant BG Matthews, 3 January 1916, states: 'I beg to request that you will forward to the [Officer-in-Charge of Australian and New Zealand Base Depot] this, my application for discharge from the Australian Forces in order that I may complete my course at Medicine in the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. I understand that the Officer Commanding Australian & N.Z. Base Depot, Weymouth, has intimated that he is prepared to approve of my discharge on receipt of this formal application. I am a fifth year medical student who left Edinburgh in April 1914 without completing my course. I joined the Army on September 15th, 1914, at Melbourne, and was invalided home from Lemnos on August 25th, 1915. Captain J. H. Anderson, Adjutant of the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, who is at present in this country, has no objection to my discharge being so effected. As the Session starts to-morrow at the Royal College of Surgeons, and as I do not wish to lose any time, if possible, I should feel very grateful if my discharge could be put through with as little delay as possible'.