Regular followers of this blog know of the deep interest I have in the Rowland Bourke VC, DSO story. For many years I conducted a lone Remembrance Day ceremony at his grave site here in Victoria BC. Several years ago I contacted the Commanding Officer of the local reserve naval unit... HMS Malahat. I asked that he consider bringing his unit to the grave site and performing a ceremony on Nov. 11th. He investigated and complied. Since then he has committed his unit, and a later commander has continued the commitment to perform a service there each year on 11 November. At each, more and more troops are brought along.
Soon the idea was floated about that the current marker ought to be upgrading to a Commonwealth War Graves Commission style larger marker to better honour the hero at rest. A year long effort then ensued and with the incredible assistance of many parties and agencies, the new marker was unveiled last May 8th at the Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria BC.
Soon the idea was floated about that the current marker ought to be upgrading to a Commonwealth War Graves Commission style larger marker to better honour the hero at rest. A year long effort then ensued and with the incredible assistance of many parties and agencies, the new marker was unveiled last May 8th at the Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria BC.
A search of this site will produce several stories of Rowland Bourke. At the left above, is the original marker, still in place. At centre I am shaking the hands of a young ellow named Shane. His grandmother was this hero's sister. Behind stands Rear Admiral Truelove, the most senior officer of the Canadian Navy on the West Coast and current commander of Maritime Forces Pacific. To his right is the honorable Belgian Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Bruno van der Pluijm.
That being said, Several weeks ago I started to bring blogs to this space about recent developments in England to further help keep alive the stories of past Victoria Cross recipients.
One of the developments noted in the blogs was the fact that the government planed to create memorial paving stones for a select group of deceased recipients. These are to be distributed to the towns and villages and cities etc. where the men were actually born in England and Ireland. This was to help those towns etc that have no marker to honour the hero, as he may be buried elsewhere. That plan has now been expanded as noted in past blogs.
But in doing that research I found Rowland Bourke's name being listed as one of the original grouping on men to be honored. Thus said, a paving stone similar in appearance to images in a recent blog, with be no doubt unveiled in London in the future. The idea is for an unveiling exactly 100 years after the battle in which the VC was awarded to the individual. In Bourke's case it was during the night of 9-10 May 1918. Thus an expected unveiling in London for May of 2018.
But there is still more news on 2 fronts for this hero.
Last week I discovered in my research that another memorial to VC men was unveiled last Fall back in Ontario. It was 100 km north of Toronto at the Barrie waterfront.
There is a several phase, several park plan moving forward, and underway for years, to commemorate the military of the area going back as far as the War of 1812 and on right up to Afghanistan. When completed it will be known as the Military Heritage Park.
Last October its first phase was not only opened, by actually officiated at by the Royal Princess Anne who is the honorary Colonel in Chief of the historic Grey and Simcoe Foresters, an infantry regiment of the area. The Royal Princess conducted duties in that regard, carried out other visits and business and also unveiled a 7 foot high obelisk that arrived just a few days earlier and still in three pieces, and mounted on site in very quick order.
That being said, Several weeks ago I started to bring blogs to this space about recent developments in England to further help keep alive the stories of past Victoria Cross recipients.
One of the developments noted in the blogs was the fact that the government planed to create memorial paving stones for a select group of deceased recipients. These are to be distributed to the towns and villages and cities etc. where the men were actually born in England and Ireland. This was to help those towns etc that have no marker to honour the hero, as he may be buried elsewhere. That plan has now been expanded as noted in past blogs.
But in doing that research I found Rowland Bourke's name being listed as one of the original grouping on men to be honored. Thus said, a paving stone similar in appearance to images in a recent blog, with be no doubt unveiled in London in the future. The idea is for an unveiling exactly 100 years after the battle in which the VC was awarded to the individual. In Bourke's case it was during the night of 9-10 May 1918. Thus an expected unveiling in London for May of 2018.
But there is still more news on 2 fronts for this hero.
Last week I discovered in my research that another memorial to VC men was unveiled last Fall back in Ontario. It was 100 km north of Toronto at the Barrie waterfront.
There is a several phase, several park plan moving forward, and underway for years, to commemorate the military of the area going back as far as the War of 1812 and on right up to Afghanistan. When completed it will be known as the Military Heritage Park.
Last October its first phase was not only opened, by actually officiated at by the Royal Princess Anne who is the honorary Colonel in Chief of the historic Grey and Simcoe Foresters, an infantry regiment of the area. The Royal Princess conducted duties in that regard, carried out other visits and business and also unveiled a 7 foot high obelisk that arrived just a few days earlier and still in three pieces, and mounted on site in very quick order.
The names of the Canadian Victoria Cross recipient are inscribed on this face as well, probably as on two other sides of the triangular memorial. Some of these heroes' stories have appeared already in this space. Note Rowland Bourke's name near the base and better shown in the image on right. Part of this memorial also incudes two benches that you can rest on and enjoy the wonderful waterfront view.
A larger viewing showing the two benches as well. Further information can be obtained by simply searching Google for the Barrie Military Heritage Park.
There is still more information about yet another monument of sorts working its way through the planning stages and when finalized I will share it will you.
Happy belated Canada Day and current 4th of July to our American friends.
See you next Wednesday, but in the mean time why not search this site for the story of the US first recipient of the Victoria Cross... back in mid 1800's. Search for William Seeley and enjoy. And note also the connection the 4th of July.
Bart
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