Argyle Michael Bourke

     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


(For a brief history and context on the Bourke family see this page)

Argyle was born on Thursday, 24 April 1884 at the tin mining town of Stannifer, New South Wales.¹ By the time he was born, his father had died. It is most likely that his christian name was in memory of Argyle MacCallum who owned the "Good Hope" homestead near Yass. Donald and Margaret, Argyle's grandparents, apparently lived there, working for the MacCallum family in the late 1840's. He was the son of Michael Bourke and Susannah Alletta Nicholson. Argyle Michael Bourke was also known as Gyle to family. He was baptised at St. Mary's on Sunday, 19 October 1884 at Bundarra, New South Wales. It seems that he might have been baptised "Michael Argile" but given other errors in the record, this isn't clear.² He presumably lived with his mother at the Sydney suburb of Macdonaldtown in May 1888.³

Although there is no evidence that he attended the wedding, his mother Susannah married John Dalgety Thomson in a Wesleyan ceremony at the parsonage 379 King St. on Monday, 7 May 1888 at the Sydney suburb of Newtown. It is likely that at least some of Susannah's children would have chosen to live, at least for a while, with their mother and her new husband. Marie, who was very young when her mother remarried, called herself Marie Thompson on at least one occasion.⁴. He was 4 years old.⁵

After five years of widow-hood, their mother remarried a John Thomson on 17 May 1888 when Gyle was four. Mr Thomson was an engineer, and was eight years younger than their mother.

Although their mother's new husband called himself an engineer on his marriage certificate, he was apparently working as a publican within a year. This may have been Susannah's influence, given her family's involvement in the hotel trade. However, the situation is clouded due to how common his name was; in any event, it would seem they spent the next six years moving from pub to pub in Sydney. Nearly three years later on Thursday, 10 December 1891 a John Thomson relinquished the licence to at the Captain Cook Hotel Clyde Street in the Sydney suburb of Millers Point.⁶ On 23 December 1891 a John Thomson relinquished a colonial wine licence associated with at 341 Oxford Street in the Sydney suburb of Paddington.⁷

In 1893 a John Thomson was the publican of the Blue Anchor at 176 George Street, in Sydney. It is very likely that this is the John Thomson of our interest.⁸ John acquired the publican's licence to Trafalgar Hotel in Castelreagh Street, in Sydney, on Thursday, 29 June 1893 on the same day that he relinquished the licence to the Blue Anchor.⁹ John acquired the publican's licence to the Glasgow Arms at 312 George Street, in Sydney, on Wednesday, 30 August 1893 on the same day that he relinquished the licence to the Trafalgar Hotel.¹⁰

The Thompson family were the managers of the Como Hotel, in Como, Sutherland, New South Wales, for at least a year or so circa 1895.

His step-father died 16 March 1898 at the aproximate age of 39. Gyle was aged 13 when this happened.

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of Joseph William Hill and Mary Alberta MacCallum Bourke in a Church of England ceremony at St. Peter's on Monday, 11 February 1901 at the Sydney suburb of Wooloomooloo. Both of their fathers had died when they were children. They went on to have three children in next ten years.¹¹



Adulthood


His mother died 31 August 1907 at the age of 57. Argyle was aged 23 when this happened. She died of cancer after a 10 week illness.. Argyle was employed as a clerk in 1909.¹²

He may have attended the wedding of his brother in the marriage of Don Bourke and Ivy Pearl Owens in a Presbyterian ceremony at the house of Eleazar Owens on Tuesday, 11 April 1911 at Mandurama, New South Wales. Don and Ivy went on to have three known children together.^13,14 Argyle Michael Bourke was a commercial traveller in 1913.¹⁵ Argyle lived in 1913 at at The Channings Gregory Terrace in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.¹⁵ Argyle Michael Bourke was also known as Mick. Argyle lived circa March 1915 at Brisbane.¹⁶





Military service
He enlisted with the AIF on 20 May 1915 at Brisbane at age 31. With the Gallipoli landing less than a month previous, support for the war was strong and many Australian volunteered at this time. Gyle initially failed his medical examination because of his eyesight, but he mentioned to his sister that he was able to have someone "fix it for me"..^17,18,19 He was described as having two vaccination marks on his left arm. He also had a scar on the crown of his head. His chest measurement was 38 1/2 to 40 1/2 inches. on 21 May 1915.²⁰ He was described as 165 pounds, 5 feet, 7 inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fair skin, age 32 on 21 May 1915.

The later part of his training in July was marked by illness caused by vaccinations, as well as uncertainty about when they were to be sent overseas. He was also unhappy with his initial posting, hoping to be with Val Boyle who was with the 12th Light Horse. Gyle completed his initial training and on August 4th, 1915 was assigned to the 7th reinforcements of the 47th Battalion under the command of 2nd Lt. Cooper. His last weeks in Australia were spent on picket, or guard, duty. He complains of doing 70 hours of this dull task in a single week, but he does not mention that picket duty is often given as a punishment. He finally embarked for the Middle East on August 20th, 1915.^21,22

Gyle most likely landed in Alexandria in early October, but was soon transferred to the Aegean island of Lemnos, the main staging post for the Gallipoli campaign, where he joined his battalion on October 23rd. The 15th Battalion had been at Sarpi camp for about 5 weeks recovering from a shocking 5 months at ANZAC cove. Lemnos was a pleasant respite, and with the arrival of reinforcements allowed the battalion to regain some of it's strength. However, almost immediately after Gyle arrived mumps broke out amongst the reinforcements and they were isolated from the rest of the battalion. It was clear, even to his family, that he was bound for Gallipoli.^23,24,25,26

It was about this time that General Hamilton, the commander of the Gallipoli forces, was replaced by General Sir Charles Monro. Whilst Hamilton had been a supporter of the campaign to defeat Turkey, Monro was convinced that the war could only be won on the Western front. His mission was to determine if the penninsula was to evacuated, and if not, what level of reinforcements were required to ensure that Constantinople was captured. He made a quick tour of all three bridgeheads, including Anzac cove, but this only confirmed his initial conclusion. On the 31st of October he recommended to Kitchener that the penninsula be evacuated, and that losses could be as high as forty percent - 40,000 men.²⁷

On this same day, the last day of October, the Battalion boarded the Osmanieh and sailed for Gallipoli. They were not able to land on the following night due to rough seas, but landed on the night of the 2nd of November. Once ashore they took up positions in Happy Valley. Happy Valley was considered a nice quiet part of the line, with the trenches well spaced. Heavy snows, though a novelty to the Queenslanders in the Battalion, proved difficult for the poorly equiped troops. The men of the Battalion busied themselves by building a system of underground barracks, storerooms and kitchens, some as much as 50 feet below the surface. By the second week of December it had become obvious that an evacuation was being prepared; the Battalion left ANZAC cove for the last time on December 13th on SS Carron, a week before the the last of the forces left. Miraculously, no lives were lost in the evacuation. During his time at Gallipoli it is unlikely that Gyle had first hand experience of battle with the Turks; "It is doubtful if one member of the 7th or 8th Reinforcements fired a shot in the direction of the enemy".²⁸.^25,29

The Battalion spent a short time on Lemnos, but within two weeks was disembarking at Moascar, Egypt. From there they marched to Ismailia on the Suez, where they bivouacked in deep sand bordering the railway line. For the first week discipline was relaxed, but this gave way to a normal camp life of bugle calls and parades. After a further two weeks the battalion was once again moved to a more permanent camp at Moascar, where route marches into the desert became the order of the day. Fortunately, leave to Cairo was frequent.^30,31

In late February, he reported sick and was admitted to No.1 Australian Stationery Hospital in Ismailia. The day after this, the Commanding Officer rejoined his Battlion, and they entrained forTel-el-Kebir. Gyle was discharged to duty on March 8th.^32,33

In early March there was a major reorganisation of the AIF, and a new Battalion (the 47th) was created from the 15th. Gyle was transferred to this new battalion, along with some of his comrades, but it was primarily formed from new arrivals from Australia. It was generally understood that the 47th was to be sent to the Western Front.^34,33,35

On March 17th Gyle skipped camp and was absent for two days. Then, three days later he was caught in Moascar wearing the chevrons of a sergeant. For these two transgressions he was charged by his Commanding Officer with "conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline" and sentenced to 15 days of Field Punishment No.2. Additionally, he was to forfeit 19 days of pay.³⁶

In early April the battlion departed Tel-el_Kebir and marched for three days across sand to Serapeum, where they joined the defensive forces around the Suez canal. Much of the time was spent in open manoeuvre work. In mid May they night-marched to Serapeum itself and camped on the banks of the canal.³⁷

On May 20th, he wrote home thanking the family for receipt of a billy full of supplies from home. He did not say much, beyond how busy he was.³⁸

On the first day of June the 4th Division, of which the 47th Battalion was a part, was regarded as fit for active service. Gyle embarked on the Caledonia at Alexandria for Marseilles where they landed on 9th of June. They were almost immediately entrained for Bailleul, arriving there 3 days later. They were then billeted at Outersteene, about a mile from Merris. The troops were excited to be in France, and high spirited incidents were rife. It was at this time that Gyle was charged for the second time, this time being absent from an inspection, resisting arrest, and inciting another digger to disobey an order. For this transgression he was awarded 28 days of Field Punishment No.2.^39,40,41,42

By the first week of July, the 47th was moved into the front line for the first time, occupying a quiet sector of the line for a while before relieved and being returned to their billets. However they remained there only a short time before being entrained for the Somme. They moved from one billet to another, from Doullens to Berteaucourt-les-Dames to Vardencourt Wood. At this stage they were in sight of the Cathedral at Albert. Shortly after they crossed what was a few days previously the German front line to take up positions in front of Pozieres. C and D companies occupied the front line with A and B in support. The battalion was now under constant artillery bombardment and casualties were heavy; the two companies in the front line were reduced to half strength, one platoon only mustering one lance-corporal and seven men. What was once a system of trenches was now virtually a "system of shell-holes with dead Germans everywhere".^39,40,41,42

After a couple of days the battalion was relieved and marched back to Berteaucourt-les-Dames for a fortnight of training, before entering the front line again at Moquet Farm, a mile from their previous position. Conditions were very difficult with thick mud a foot deep and bodies buried in the slime. In some places water was waist deep. Casualties were again heavy until the 47th was relieved by a Canadian unit in the second week of September and send to billets in the Ypres salient. Here they rested and bathed before they were to be sent to reinforce the front line again.
Gyle wrote briefly about both of these incidents to his friend Val with the 12th Light horse in Egypt, saying "I'm never afraid of the life to come now - it couldn't be worse. And between ourselves I'm mighty glad that I was the only member of our great family and friends who had to do it, it's a thing that can't well be described and one has to be in it to know the horrors ... I thought I was some solider when I met you last but I know more about it now".^39,40,41,42

Gyle wrote briefly about both of these incidents to his friend Val with the 12th Light horse in Egypt, saying "I'm never afraid of the life to come now - it couldn't be worse. And between ourselves I'm mighty glad that I was the only member of our great family and friends who had to do it, it's a thing that can't well be described and one has to be in it to know the horrors ... I thought I was some solider when I met you last but I know more about it now". They held the line lightly, until again being retired, this time to Ridge Wood.^39,40,41,42

It was about this time that Gyle experienced "defective eyesight" in the field. There is some indication that he was wounded by gas, but it seems more likely that this is a recurrence of the problem that made it difficult for him to enlist. It continued to cause him problems for the duration of the war.^43,44,45,46

The Battalion continued to move around between billets as the first bitter days of the awful winter of 1916/1917 made themselves felt. They entrained for the Somme again, once there making short stops at Le Toile, Vignacourt, Flesselles and Dernacourt. At the beginning of November they moved into the line to left of Gueudecourt in relief of the 6th and 12th Battalions. Conditions were very trying with heavy snow falls and mud everywhere. They remained in the line for about 10 days before being moved back to a defensive position known as Switch Trench. From here the Battalion supplied working parties. They continued these same duties in Townsville Camp, before being moved to Flesselles again where the battalion spent New Year's Day.^43,44,45,46

It is possible that he had spent some of the previous time as Lance-Corporal; in any event he was promoted to Corporal in early November. However, this was the last active service Gyle was to see. He began leave at about this time.^43,44,45,46

He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant circa March 1918 .⁴⁷ He was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2 in May 1918 .

Argyle returned to Australia on 3 May 1919 at age 35.¹⁷ He was released from active duty in 1919.¹⁷ Argyle was ill. Eye disorders.⁴⁸



Civilian life
Argyle was employed as a salesman in 1921. Argyle was employed as a salesman in 1922.⁴⁹

He married Daisy May Jean Shoesmith, daughter of Thomas Shoesmith and Catherine Coley (?), in 1923 at Katoomba, New South Wales..⁵⁰

On Thursday, 14 February 1924 Gyle and his wife attended the joint birthday party for his brother Don and family friend Val Boyle, hosted for them by his sister Mary and her husband Joe. It was also attended by neighbors and close family friends.⁵¹

Joe and Mary, her brother Don and his wife Ivy, and their brother Gyle and his wife Daisy attended a Fools' Cap Ball at the Wentworth Cafe, in Sydney, on 3 April 1924.⁵²

He may have attended the wedding of his niece in the marriage of John Hill and Margery Jean Smith at Sydney Church of England Grammar Chapel on Saturday, 2 November 1929 at North Sydney. John and Margery went on to have only one child together.⁵³

Argyle Michael Bourke was an agent in 1930.⁵⁴ Argyle and Daisy lived in 1930 at at 354 Canturbury Road in the Sydney suburb of Hurlstone Park.⁵⁵

His sister Mary died on Friday, 27 November 1931 at the age of 52.⁵⁶ Argyle Michael Bourke was a hospital employee in 1933.⁵⁷ Argyle and Daisy lived in 1933 at at 382 Park Road in the Sydney suburb of Paddington.⁵⁷ Argyle Michael Bourke was a hospital attendant in 1936.⁵⁸ Argyle and Daisy lived in 1936 at at 47 Vaughan Street in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe.⁵⁸ Argyle and Daisy lived in 1943 at at 4 George Street in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe.⁵⁹ Argyle Michael Bourke was a retiree in 1954.⁶⁰ Argyle and Daisy lived in 1954 at at 14 Oak Street in the Sydney suburb of North Narrabeen.⁶⁰

Argyle died in 1966 at the Sydney suburb of St. Leonards.⁶¹