Bourne, Herbert Frederick

No.2483 – Private Herbert Frederick Bourne – 14^th Battalion

Herbert Bourne was also born in Brisbane Queensland on 28^th October 1885 to Herbert and Elizabeth Bourne. The family soon travelled to Western Australia and took up residence in both Perth and Fremantle at different stages.

Herbert's father Herbert (snr) was an auctioneer and manufacturer's agent and had an office in Henry Street Fremantle. The family then lived at 'Rocky Glen' Riverside Road East Fremantle.

After leaving school Herbert took up work as a cook and he worked for a few years in Fremantle. Prior to the war Herbert journeyed to Victoria where he continued his trade. On the 11^th February 1915 Herbert enlisted into the AIF in Melbourne.

He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner finding that Herbert was 5 feet 7 & ½ inches tall; weight of 10 stone; chest measurement of 33-36 inches, fair complexion, black eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Herbert also had a scar on his forehead and bridge of nose and the 1^st toe on his left foot was missing.

At some point after enlistment Reginald, Stanley and Herbert met up to have a photo taken in their uniforms. (Herbert in middle of photo)

Herbert was sent to Broadmeadows Camp where he was assigned to the 7^th Reinforcements to the 14^th Battalion AIF. He trained in Broadmeadows Camp for a few months and on the 10^th August 1915 boarded the HMAT Persic in Port Melbourne and set sail to Egypt. The sea journey took four weeks and after arriving in September the men were sent into camp. However Herbert did not have long in Egypt as on the 9^th October he set sail for the Dardanelles. He joined the 14^th Battalion on Mudros Island where they were having a rest period. They soon returned to Anzac where Herbert saw out the final days of the campaign.

With the Dardanelles evacuated the Australians returned to Egypt. The 14^th Battalion remained in Egypt until the end of May 1916. On the 1^st June they set sail for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 8^th June.

Herbert survived his unit’s campaign at Pozieres & Mouquet farm in August 1916 and served with the 14^th Battalion for the remainder of the year. He did go absent without leave for a day and as a punishment had to forfeit 8 day’s pay.

It appears Herbert had contracted venereal disease as he was sent to England for treatment at the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford. Herbert would remain in England for the next four months which may have saved his life as the 14^th Battalion was decimated at Bullecourt in April 1917. On the 1^st May Herbert rejoined his unit and they soon moved to southern Belgium and in June they took part in the Messines action. The 14^th Battalion would remain in this sector for the next few months and on the 8^th August Herbert came down ill so was sent to the 4^th Field Ambulance. After initial treatment in France, Herbert was sent to England. He would remain in England for the rest of the war as he served in various AIF Base Camps as he was found not to be medically fit enough to return to the Western Front.

On the 23^rd August 1918 he married Edith Gavin, a widow with two sons. She had been married to a Herbert Nyburg of the Rifle Brigade who was killed in the war.

On the 7^th November 1919, Herbert and his new family left England on the HMAT Marathon and disembarked in Fremantle On the 19^th December 1919.

Two other brothers; Reginald Arthur Bourne and Stanley Septimus Bourne served in the 10^th Light Horse with the regimental numbers 907 and 906 respectively. Both survived the war.

Herbert Bourne died on the 3rd August 1967 in Como WA.