Gunner 1438623 Patrick J O`Rourke
Regiment: Royal Artillery - Commando and No. 6
Theatre of War: Netherlands
Age at death: 24
Date of death: 19th of February 1945
Born: St Helens, Lancs
Resided: St Helens, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: Nederweert War Cemetery
Family details:
Son of Edward and Elizabeth O'Rourke, of St. Helens, Lancashire.
Census details:
1939 Register. Unfortunately Patrick J is redacted. Father Edward O'Rourke born 13/02/1867 a General Labourer (Retired), mother Elizabeth O'Rourke born 23/09/1883 an Unpaid Domestic, brother Peter J O'Rourke born 15/04/1900 a Billiard Marker, sister Mary E Edwards (O'Rourke) born 26/10/1908 a Bar Maid and brother Christopher O'Rourke born 25/12/1909 a Foreman Bottle Machine Operator are living at 9 Southey Road, St Helens. Also at the address are Thomas F Dixon born 13/11/1914 a Metal Worker, his wife Rosanna Dixon born 21/11/1915 an Unpaid Domestic and their daughter Sylvia M Northey (Dixon) born 04/08/1939 Under School Age.
Gunner Patrick O'Rourke, from St Helens, Lancashire,died of wounds during operations in Holland. He was the son of working class Irish immigrants from Dublin. In January 1939 he attested into the Royal Artillery aged 18 years. His servive reccord confirms that on 24th November 1943 he was posted Royal Artillery. On 6th April 1944 he became a member of the Old Comrades Association of the Special Service Brigade at Achnacarry. On the 22nd June 1944 (No.6 Commando) he was wounded in Normandy, France. On the 10th February 1945 (No.6 Commando) wounded again in Holland, this time fatally. At the time of his death his Commando were engaged in operations in the area of Bell Island (Osen), Brachterbeek, Holland, as confirmed in. 1 Cdo. Bde. HQ War Diary January 1945.
In January 1945 No.6 Commando were assisting in Operation Blackcock. They crossed the Maas and the frozen Juliana Canal from the Liberated Netherlands. The village of Maasbracht, was already liberated on 23/24 January 1945; the German armies maintained a bridgehead on the island of "Osen", between the Maas and the Lateraal Canal, where they fought stubbornly. In the weeks of fighting, Patrick O'Rourke eventually lost his life on February 10, 1945. The battle for the island of "Osen" took the lives of 24 Allied soldiers, 30 were seriously injured and 12 were missing. (Thanks to local man Mr Erik Ficken from The Netherlands).
