Michael Dennis O'Rourke
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known |
| Place of Birth | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Age at Enlistment | 44 years, 2 months |
| Description | 5'7" (1.70m) tall; weight 128 lbs (58.1kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, dark hair. |
| Occupation | farrier |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Wuraming State Mill, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Florence Maud O'Rourke |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1223 |
| Date of Enlistment | 2 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 3rd Pioneer Battalion, D Company / 3rd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 6 Jun 1916 - 26 Jul 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A62 Wandilla |
| Date of Return | 28 Aug 1917 - 14 Oct 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMNZT Pakeha |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 7 May 1917 Armentieres Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1910 - 1912 No 6 Mill, Jarrahdale, teamster; 1916 Wuraming, mill hand.
War Service
Two months after entering camp, Michael was allocated to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion and allocated to D Company. His training took him to Melbourne, from where he left for England.
Soon after he was on his way to France via England where he would have spent time in the Pioneer Training Battalion at Perham Downs.
On 24 Nov 1916, Michael along with the rest of his battalion proceeded overseas to France. The battalion entrained in Lark Hill for Amesbury on three trains on the morning of 24 Nov 1916, and at Amesbury they caught three other trains to Southampton where the majority of the battalion boarded the HMT Caeserea, and the rest the HMT Nirvanna. Both ships arrived in Le Havre at 4.30am on 25 Nov 1916 and a day later the battalion entrained for Armentiès.
During January 1917, from the 11th until the 13th, Michael needed medical attention for diphtheria. On 7 May 1917, he had been wounded when a German shell landed in the battalion's workshop, killing 1 man and wounding Michael and 12 others. Seen first by the West Lancashire Field Ambulance on 7 May, Dennis was transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station who placed him aboard the 21st Ambulance Train for Calais where on 15 May 1917 he was embarked on the HS Princesse Elisabeth for England. Dennis's injuries were to his hand and chest, and on arrival in England he was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham on 15 May 1917.
Following treatment in Birmingham he was granted furlough from 16 - 30 Jul 1917, and then reported to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth.
On 27 Aug 1917 he was returned to Australia for home service as being overage, and discharged by the 5th Military District on 2 Nov 1917.
Post War
Wife Florence Maud ??
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1931 Pindalup, mill hand; 1937 - 1954 at 64 Francis street, Perth;
Notes
Ancestry.com also has a shipping list for the SS El Kantara via Marseilles and Colombo, arriving in Fremantle 29 Sep 1917 with Michael Dennis O'Rourke aboard.