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Pion. Andrew Rourke
British Army 1st Labour Btn. C Company Royal Engineers
from:5 Monteith Road, Old Ford Road, Bow, London
(d.5th October 1916)
My Great Grandfather, Andrew Rourke, a Pioneer with The Royal Engineers. He arrived in France on 23rd of August 1915. He lived at 5 Monteith Road, which was off Old Ford Road in Bow, London. The property was, I believe, a block of flats and was demolished in the 1960's. Andrew was a Roadsweeper for Poplar Council.
As a Pioneer on the 4th October 1916 he was working in C Company making repairs to the Guillemont to Ginchy Road. A shell burst killed one Pioneer, and severely wounded four others, including Andrew. Two more were slightly wounded. They were taken to number 34 Casualty Clearing Station (if the information about the numbering that I have is correct) The Casualty Clearing Station is a distance today of 18.5km and 19 minutes by car from Guillemont. It might have been more direct in 1916, but I'm sure by horse drawn ambulance it would have taken several hours. I have seen a photograph of an Advanced Dressing Station on the Guillemont Road in September 1916, but this was at the time of the battle. It might not have still been there.
Andrew died of his wounds the following day along with two other Pioneers. Andrew is buried at Grove Town Cemetery.
There are some photographs of the Guillemont Road area in the IWM. I wonder if the one of the troops repairing the road includes my Great Grandfather!
