Michael James "Mickey" O'Rourke (March 19, 1878 – December 6, 1957), was an Irish-

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

soldier and dockworker. O'Rourke was a recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

, the highest, most prestigious decoration for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

forces.

Early life

There is little documentation of O'Rourke's life prior to World War I. Born in Limerick, Ireland, he served in the

Royal Munster Fusiliers The Royal Munster Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1922. It traced its origins to the East India Company, East India Company's Bengal European Regiment raised in 1652, which later became the 101st Regiment ...

before emigrating to Canada where he joined the Canadian militia in Revelstoke, British Columbia. He also worked as a miner.

World War I

O'Rourke joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in February 1915. He had already been awarded the Military Medal for bravery at the Battle of the Somme when, as a member of the 7th (1st British Columbia) Battalion, the following action took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. During the period 15/17 August 1917 at the Battle of Hill 70 near Lens, France, Private O'Rourke, who was a stretcher-bearer, worked unceasingly for three days and nights bringing in the wounded, dressing their wounds and getting them food and water. During the whole of this period the area in which he worked was swept by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and 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.

Later life

After the war, O'Rourke went to California, then returned to British Columbia where he eked out an existence on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, skid road, surviving on a disability pension of 10 dollars per month and casual work on the docks. During the Vancouver longshoremen's strike of 1935, he headed a protest march of about 1,000 strikers, wearing his medals and carrying the Union Flag, Union Jack. 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. O'Rourke's later life was complicated by war-related chronic health problems and alcoholism. He died as an indigent at a Veterans' Affairs facility in Burnaby, BC, on December 6, 1957. His grave is located at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Burnaby), Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby.

References

External links

Michael James O'Rourke's digitized service file

Michael James O'Rourke biography

Legion Magazine Article on Michael James O'Rourke
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orourke, Michael James 1878 births 1957 deaths Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers Canadian World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Irish World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Irish emigrants to Canada Military personnel from County Limerick People from Burnaby Canadian recipients of the Military Medal Royal Munster Fusiliers soldiers Canadian military personnel of World War I Canadian trade unionists

Early life

World War I

Later life

References

Further reading

External links