ENFR
September 10, 2020

15/9/1917 - Private O’Rourke Victoria Cross (VC)...a soldier who went home and took on another fight

Victoria Cross - First World War, 1914-1918

Private O’Rourke

Private O’Rourke

 

103 YEARS AGO, THIS WEEK IN HISTORY - At Hill 70, near Lens in France, during the period of 15-17 September 1917, Private Michael O’Rourke, who was a 39 year old stretcher-bearer, of the 7th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, worked unceasingly for three days and nights, to bring the wounded to safety, to treat their injuries, and to obtain food and water for them. For his actions Private O’Rourke earned the Victoria Cross; the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of the British Forces.  
 
Close your eyes and imagine the scene as during the entire time, heavy machine-gun and rifle fire swept the area in which Private O’Rourke worked. On several occasions he was knocked down and partially buried by enemy shells. His courage and devotion in carrying out his rescue work in spite of exhaustion and incessant heavy fire inspired all ranks and undoubtedly saved many lives. It is reported that at least three times, he exposed himself recklessly to enemy fire in order to retrieve wounded men. The first time, O’Rourke jumped out of his trench in full view of German snipers to bring a soldier who had been blinded to safety. He left his trench on two other occasions in the face of heavy enemy machine gun fire and rescued two other wounded comrades.

He managed to come home...back to British Columbia, where he lived out a meagre existence in Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, surviving on a disability pension of 10 dollars per month and casual work on the docks. We think of him as the WW1 hero, however, what many do not know is that he managed to fight one more fight.  One would imagine that he was a passionate man, putting courage and duty first.  During a longshoremen's strike in 1935, he headed a protest march of about 1,000 strikers, proudly wearing his medals and carrying the Union Flag. The marchers attempted to pass a police line guarding the waterfront and were attacked with clubs and tear gas in what came to be known as the Battle of Ballantyne Pier.  

The Battle of Ballantyne Pier occurred in Ballantyne Pier during a docker's strike in Vancouver, BC, in June 1935.  Private O’Rourke, VC, was one of them...this time fighting for his rights on the picket line.  

He died on the 6th of December 1957 in Vancouver and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during prolonged operations.

For three days and nights Pte. O’Rourke, who is a stretcher-bearer, worked unceasingly in bringing the wounded into safety, dressing them, and getting them food and water.
During the whole of his period the area in which he worked was subjected to very severe shelling and swept by heavy machine gun and rifle fire. On several occasions he was knocked down and partially buried by enemy shells. Seeing a comrade who had been blinded stumbling around ahead of our trench, in full view of the enemy who were sniping him, Pte. O’Rourke jumped out of his trench and brought the man back, being himself heavily sniped at while doing so. Again he went forward about 50 yards in front of our barrage under very heavy and accurate fire from enemy machine guns and snipers, and brought in a comrade. On a subsequent occasion, when the line of advanced posts was retired to the line to be consolidated, he went forward under very heavy enemy fire of every description and brought back a wounded man who had been left behind.

He showed throughout an absolute disregard for his own safety, going wherever there were wounded to succour, and his magnificent courage and devotion in continuing his rescue work, in spite of exhaustion and the incessant heavy enemy fire of every description, inspired all ranks and undoubtedly saved many lives.”

(London Gazette, no.30372, 8 November 1917)
 

References:

  1. https://thediscoverblog.com/2017/08/15/private-michael-james-orourke-vc/
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_James_O%27Rourke
  3. https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1929/3/15/prodigies-of-valor
  4. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/medals/victoria-cross-recipients/michael-james-orourke.html