Rowland Bourke

Rowland Richard Louis Bourke, VC, DSO (28 November 1885 – 29 August 1958) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Rowland Richard Louis Bourke
Born28 November 1891
London, England
Died29 August 1958
Buried
Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia
Allegiance United Kingdom
 Canada
Service/branch Royal Navy
 Royal Canadian Navy
Years of service1916–1919 (UK), 1941–1950 (Canada)
RankCommander
UnitRoyal Navy Volunteer Reserve
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsVictoria Cross
Distinguished Service Order
Légion d'honneur[1]

Bourke was born in London, England and emigrated to Canada in 1902. He returned to the UK on the outbreak of World War I, and after initially being rejected due to poor eyesight, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1916.

Early life

Born on 28 November 1885 in London, England, Bourke moved to Canada in 1902. He became a miner in the Klondike and a fruit grower in British Columbia. In January 1916, he volunteered for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.[2]

Military career

At the outbreak of World War I, Bourke volunteered to enlist in the Canadian military. He was rejected by all three arms of service due to poor eyesight. Undeterred, Bourke returned to England, at his own expense, where he successfully joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve serving on Motor Launches.

In April 1918, Bourke volunteered his Motor Launch to participate in the blockading of the Belgian harbour of Zeebrugge-Ostend, during the First Ostend Raid. The Motor Launches were detailed to rescue personnel from ships sunk in the blockade effort. Initially rejected from participating due to his eyesight, Bourke continued to volunteer his launch, despite knowing that volunteering put him and his crew in great peril. During action on the night of 23 April, Bourke's Launch picked up 38 sailors from the blockship HMS Brilliant and towed the crippled ML 532 out of the harbour.[3] For showing "the greatest coolness and skill in handling his motor-launch", Bourke was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[4]

Victoria Cross action

On 9 and 10 May 1918 at Ostend, Belgium, after the crew of HMS Vindictive had been taken off, Bourke, commanding Motor Launch 276, went into the harbour to check that everybody had got away. After searching and finding no one, he withdrew, but hearing cries from the water he turned back, found an officer and two seamen clinging to an up-turned boat, and rescued them. During this time the Motor Launch was under very heavy fire and was hit 55 times, once by a 6-inch shell which killed two of her crew and did considerable damage. Lieutenant Bourke, however, managed to take her into the open sea, and was taken in tow. In recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duty, Bourke was gazetted the Victoria Cross on 27 August 1918.[5][6]

Second World War

Prior to the start of World War II, Bourke was instrumental in organizing a Fishermen's Reserve, to patrol the west coast of Canada. He served as a recruiting officer for a period of time but in 1941 he returned to sea, with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He served as Commander of HMCS Givenchy, HMCS Esquimalt, and HMCS Burrard, Vancouver.[3] He ended his naval career in 1950 in the rank of Commander serving with the Royal Canadian Navy.

Death and legacy

He is buried in section O, plot 10, grave 16 in Royal Oak Burial Park, Falaise Drive, Victoria, British Columbia. His medals are held at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa.

The Canadian Hydrographic Service named Mount Bourke in 1945. It is located southwest of Megin Lake and northeast of Hot Springs Cove, north of Tofino, British Columbia. Mount Bourke is located at latitude 49°27′56 and longitude 126°11′02.

HMCS Malahat, Victoria's Naval Reserve Division, honours Bourke at his gravesite in Royal Oak Burial Park with a graveside ceremony each Remembrance Day.[7]

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References
  1. "No. 31189". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 February 1919. p. 2542.
  2. "A Hundred Years of the Victoria Cross". The Crowsnest. Vol. 8 no. 9. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. July 1956. pp. 5–7.
  3. "Commander Rowland Bourke, VC, DSO". Navalandmilitarymuseum.org. 1 September 1918. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. "No. 30807". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 1918. p. 8588.
  5. "No. 30870". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 August 1918. p. 10084.
  6. "No. 30870". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 August 1918. p. 10088.
  7. hmcsmalahat. "Commander Rowland Bourke - a set on Flickr". Flickr.com. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
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