O'ROURKE Horace Roan

Horace Roan O’Rourke was the second child of Michael Christopher O’Rourke and Elizabeth Flynn. He was a man of 24 years and 2 months when he enlisted for the Great War on 27 July 1915 at Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia. Horace was a student at the time. He was described as 5 feet 4 ½ inches (164cm) tall. He weighed 138 pounds (62.6kg) and had a dark complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. Horace noted his religion as Roman Catholic. He was a single man and listed his mother who was living at Marrickville, Sydney, New South Wales at the time, as his next of kin. Horace stated he had 3 year’s experience with the Nambour Rifle Club.

On 12 May 1916, Private Horace R. O’Rourke of 1 L.H.R. (Light Horse Regiment) boarded the HMAT “Anglo Egyptian” at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to serve his King and country. He disembarked Suez on 16 June, and went straight to 1 L.H.T.R. (Light Horse Training Regiment) at Tel-el-Kebir. In July, Trooper Horace R. O’Rourke made his way to Romani and joined his regiment. He was transferred to 1 A.M.G.S. (Aust. Machine Gun Squadron) on 09 September 1916. Horace sprained his ankle at Kazar on 13 June 1917. He was admitted to hospital and returned to duty 6 days later. Evidently, he was discharged from hospital too soon, as he was admitted to 1 L.H.F.A. (Light Horse Field Ambulance) in mid-June at Fukhari and transferred to 53 Welsh C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) and 2 A.S.H. (Aust. Stationary Hospital) with the same sprained ankle. Horace was transferred to Citadel G.H. (General Hospital) at Cairo on 01 July 1917 and discharged to Moascar on 14 July, where he marched in to 1 L.H.T.R. The following day, Horace went to 26 Stat. Hosp. (Stationary Hospital) at Ismailia with conjunctivitis and was discharged to duty on 04 August. Horace returned to 1 L.H.T.R. before rejoining his squadron on 16 August at Marakeb.

In March 1918, Horace was admitted to 66 C.C.S. from E.E.F. (Egyptian Expeditionary Force) with exhaustion and debility. He was transferred to 26 C.C.S, 45 Stat. Hosp., 44 Stat. Hosp. and 14 A.G.H. (Aust. General Hospital) before being admitted to Rest Camp at Port Said to convalesce. Horace joined M.G. Tng. Sqn. (Machine Gun Training Squadron) at Moascar on 10 April 1918. At the end of April, Horace was sent to School of Instruction at Zeitoun for a couple of weeks. He came down with influenza in May and was discharged from hospital on 07 June. Horace made his way to M.G. Tng. Sqn. where he attended the School of Instruction again, and qualified Range Taker. Horace marched out to his squadron in mid-June 1918 and rejoined them on 19 June. He spent the month of August 1918 in hospitals at Gaza, Kantara, Abbassia and Doulac with no diagnosis written in his records. He returned to M.G. Tng. Sqn. on 02 September and rejoined his unit on 15 September.

When on active service, Horace was absent from 2pm to 5.40pm on 27 August 1918 and was improperly dressed by not wearing a blue armlet III and he was not wearing his identity disc. This charge was awarded with the forfeiture of 2 days pay. Near the end of October, Horace was admitted to several hospitals in Egypt with Mal B. T. severe (unsure what this is).He was granted leave from 21 January 1919 to 04 February 1919 when he marched in to 1 A.M.G. Tng. Sqn. Horace rejoined his unit a week later and remained with them until he embarked Kantara aboard H.T. “Orari” for his return to Australia. He disembarked Australia on 04 July and was discharged from the A.I.F. on 19 August 1919. Horace also served during WW2.

Horace's older brother, Sherman David O'Rourke #64086 enlisted for WW1 in 1918. He went abroad but saw no action.

• Egypt
• Gaza
• Palestine

Maroochy Shire Honor Roll, Shire Chambers, Bury Street, Nambour;

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war).