Hugh O'Rourke

Died at Home on the 17/02/1919 from pneumonia

The 412th (2/1st Lowland) Field Company were part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division from March 1915. Hugh was ill at home at the time he married Catherine and died of pneumonia just 4 months later. The 52nd (Lowland) Division 1918 - The Division remained in the line near Arsuf, Palestine until March 1918. Orders were received on the 24 March that the Division would be relieved by the 7th (Meerut) Division and that it would then proceed to France. The Divisional Artillery was exchanged with that of the Indian Division and all units sailed from Alexandria between the 4th and 11th April. The Division went via Marseilles and concentrated near Abbeville by the 23rd April. En route the ship Kingstonian, carrying IX Brigade RFA, 413 Company Royal Engineers and a section of the Divisional Ammunition Column) was torpedoed on the 11th April. On the 29th April the Division moved to Aire and took over a sector of front line near Vimy on the 6th May. It was withdrawn into reserve on the 23rd July and eight days later once again went into the line north east of Arras. They took part in these Battles - The Battle of Albert (a phase of the Second Battles of the Somme 1918), the Battle of the Scarpe, the Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line (phases of the Second Battles of Arras 1918), the Battle of the Canal du Nord (a phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line), the Final Advance in Artois. The Division was in the front line north of the Mons canal and was engaged on clearing Herchies on the 11th November 1918. The demobilisation of the Division began in December and the service of the Division came to an end on the 31st May when the final cadres left for home. Hugh is listed as SAPPER on the Memorial. Hugh is also remembered on the St. Patrick's (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Hugh's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, Old Monkland Cemetery, his Pension Records x 2 and the Royal Engineers Cap Badge.