William James BOURKE

Regimental number2334
Place of birthCaheriveen, Co Kerry, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationCable operator
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 7"
Weight136 lbs
Next of kinBrother, John Joseph Bourke, Caheriveen, Co Kerry, Ireland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date15 May 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll9 May 1915
Place of enlistmentEnoggera, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name15th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/32/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 20 August 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll4th Divisional Signal Company
FateReturned to Australia 1 February 1918
Discharge date7 May 1918
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Brisbane, 20 August 1915; embarked Alexandria, Egypt, 18 October 1915; joined Bn on Lemnos, 23 October 1915.

Admitted to 4th Field Ambulance and transferred to 3rd Australian General Hospital, Lemnos, 27 October 1915 (lymphangitis).

Marched in to Alexandria, Egypt, 29 December 1915; transferred to 4th Australian Training Brigade, 7 February 1916; taken on strength of 3rd Division Signal Company as Sapper, Moascar, 8 February 1916; taken on strength of 4th Division Signal Company, Tel el Kebir, 9 March 1916.

Found guilty, 19 March 1916, of being absent without leave for 1 day: awarded 4 days' Field Punishment No 2 and forfeited 5 days' pay.

Remustered as Driver, Serapeum, 11 May 1916.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 2 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 8 June 1916.

Accidentally injured while transporting rations, 27 November 1916; admitted to 6th General Hospital, Rouen, 29 November 1916 (fractured nose); transferred to No 2 Convalescent Depot, 9 December 1916; discharged to Base Depot, 15 December 1916.

Marched in to Australian General Base Depot, Etaples, 17 December 1916; rejoined unit from Hospital, 5 January 1917; on leave, 9 May to 19 May 1917.

Admitted to Central Military Hospital, London, whilst on leave, 14 November 1917 (bronchitis); transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 28 November 1917; discharged from hospital and marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 13 December 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Balmoral Castle', 1 February 1918; disembarked Sydney, 28 March 1918; discharged, 7 May 1918.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BOURKE William James