| Regimental number | 885 |
| Place of birth | Bairnsdale, Gippsland, Victoria |
| School | State School |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Loco fireman |
| Address | Augusta Road, Busselton, Western Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 2.5" |
| Weight | 150 lbs |
| Next of kin | Uncle, Stephen Frank McDonald, Bunbury PO, Bunbury, Western Australia |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Blackboy Hill, Western Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 23 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 49 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: William and Julia BOURKE. Native of Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915. Sent to hospital from 32nd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916; admitted No 3 Field Ambulance, Tel el Kebir, 17 February 1916 (influenza); discharged and rejoined unit, 20 February 1916. Admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 13 May 1916 (rheumatism); discharged to unit, 19 May 1916; rejoined 32nd Bn, Ferry Post, 20 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Admitted No 4 Field Ambulance, 10 July 1916 (flat foot); transferred to No 8 Field Ambulance, 11 July 1916; rejoined unit, 15 July 1916. Posted missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Note on Red Cross File No 470501: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills, 10.10.19.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BOURKE John Patrick
Red Cross file 470501 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
