Biographical Data

Bourke, Rowland Richard Louis

Personal Image

Photo Credit: Libraries and Archives Canada MIKAN_3224978

 
 
Title Commander (RCNVR)
Official Number O-7860
 
Birth 28/11/1885 Death 29/08/1958
Place London Place Victoria
Area Area BC
Country UK Country Canada
 
Titles
Honours VC. DSO. Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (France). Croix de Guerre avec Palme en Bronze (France).
Awards
Qualifications
 
Biography
After his naval service he was a fruit farmer near Nelson BC before moving to Victoria BC. He worked as a civilian employee of the Department of National Defence at Esquimalt BC and was active in the formation of the Royal Canadian Navy Fishermen's Reserve on the West Coast.
 
Military Service
He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNVR. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNVR. He was appointed as a Lieutenant (Temp.) RNVR. He served in HMC ML-276 (In command) 1918, (Transferred to RCNVR). He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 01/09/1939) (Mobilized for World War Two service 01/09/1939). He served in RCN Barracks Esquimalt for Duty on Staff 1939. In 1944 he served in HMCS Givenchy. He was appointed as an A/Commander (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 01/01/1944) (Later backdated to 1939). (He was demobilized.) (His Victoria Cross was won in the First World War on 10/05/1918 during a Motor Launch attack on the Belgian port of Ostend.)
 
Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features Bourke Rock (BC). Mount Bourke (BC).
 
Anecdotes
He attempted to join the Canadian Forces but was rejected due to poor eyesight. He joined the RNVR in the UK.
 
References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Blatherwick, John (1992);
Last update
2012-12-20 00:00:00

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