Bourke, Michael

Private Michael Patrick John Bourke – 44^th Battalion Depot

Michael Patrick John Bourke was born in Kyneton Victoria in 1881 to Alexander and Julia Bourke. He had several siblings and grew up in Victoria and spent four years of service in a Victorian Militia unit. It is unknown at what date he came to Western Australia, but in 1912 he married Ethel Gummow in Boulder WA. Soon after they were living at 23 Alexandra Road South Fremantle. They had a son called Alexander born in Perth in 1911, James in 1914 and Aileen in 1916. Prior to his enlistment into the AIF Michael was working as a barman in Fremantle.

On the 5^th January 1916 he presented himself for the medical examination. The examining doctor found him to be 5 feet 10 & ½ inches in height; weight of 178 lbs; chest measurement of 37-39 inches; fresh complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.

In April 1916 he was assigned to the 2^nd Reinforcements to the 44^th Battalion AIF. He trained with them for two months but seemingly wasn’t assigned an actual regimental number as he had been evacuated to hospital sick. On the 26^th June 1916 Private Michael Bourke died at No.8 Australian General Hospital in Fremantle, the official cause being Pneumonia.

Private Michael Bourke was buried at Fremantle Cemetery Plot RC.CC.629