With his sister Dorothy
The Late Mr. Terry O’Rourke. A CAREER OF ADVENTURE. A strenuous and sometimes adventurous career was that of Mr. Tiernan Thomas Joseph (Terry) O'Rourke, who died in a private hospital at Lewisham on 12th last at the age of 49 years. He had not enjoyed very good health for several years, having suffered doubtless from the effect of service in World War 1, in which he was wounded. Terry O'Rourke was born in Wexford, Ireland, and was educated at Black Rock and University Colleges, Dublin. He studied law and was admitted to the Irish bar. He served in the Royal Irish Constabulary in stirring times and was with an Irish regiment in the war of 1914-18. Terry came to Australia in 1923, and lived at Bega and Cooma for a time. In 1929, at Sydney, he was married to Jean, daughter of Mrs. Caroline Miller, and the late Mr. P. H. Miller, of Sydney. Mrs. O'Rourke is a sister of Mrs. D. Hattersley of this district. Shortly after marriage Mr. and Mrs O'Rourke came to Glenmore Country Club, Mulgoa Road, and have continued to reside there, with breaks, ever since. Terry O'Rourke had appealing characteristics and his passing practically in the prime of life will be regretted by many. Though having served in one war and been wounded, he tried several times, unsuccessfully, to enlist in World War II. He was a good sport—in spirit, and in performance. It was remarkable that, though a fine golfer and instructor, he seldom partook in the game himself. He was a wonderfully good rifle shot. In addition to his wife he leaves a daughter, Biddy. His father and mother both preeceased him, and brothers and sisters are in Ireland. The funeral took place on the morning the the 14th inst., when the remains were interred in the Catholic Cemetery, Northern Suburbs. The last rites were performed by Father Reilly, of Penrith. Detail Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962)
"RESTLESS, LOVABLE IRISHMAN.” In an article in last Sunday's "Sun" Gilbert Mant, who was in partnership for a time with Terry O’Rourke on the South Coast, writes as follows: "I remember crazy car drives in a T-model Ford from Cooma to Adaminaby, with Terry firing off his revolver at tin mail-boxes on the gateposts, and singing "Kathleen Mavourneen" and "The West's Awake" in a soft falsetto. He could write his name on a wall with a revolver, and one night he put a bullet through a blacksmith's hat near Cooma Creek. All this happened more than 20 years ago, and this week Tiernan Thomas Joseph O'Rourke, descendant of the Kings of Ireland; died at Penrith. He was only 49, but already he is a legend throughout the Monaro and along the South Coast from Tathra to Eden. I first met Terry O'Rourke when he came out from Ireland with a price on his head, so he said, and a pension from the British Government. A small, slim man, he limped from a wound in the 1914-18 war, and there where an Irish gunman had got him with a ‘forty-four. He "packed" an incredible armory of lethal weapons—a couple of revolvers, a rifle, a shotgun and a sabre. He had an idea that "They" were still after him. We formed O'Rourke, Mant and Co, the most fantastic company in history. We bought rabbitskins, sheepskins, hides, dead wool, tallow, hooves and empty bottle. We slept among the stinking things at night. Terry had the blarney. He spoke rapidly and broke into Gaelic songs every now and then. He had rabbit-trappers gaping at his tales of Ireland. Terry O'Rourke was a restless, loveable, contradictory Irishman out of the pages of fiction. His escapades were the talk of the Monaro. In the bush pubs and around the camp fires in the mountains they will talk for years to come, about "The Wild Irishman" who has now gone to join his ancestors. Detail Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962)
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His commission was revoked after a Court Martial for absence without leave in 1916
1896 Dec 14. Born Wexford. He appears to have added "Tiernan" to his name when he got to Australia
1901 census at St Peter's Terrace, Wexford (his discharge address was St Peter's Sq, Wexford)
1911 census at St Peter's Terrace, Wexford
1915 Apr. Enlisted from OTC at University College Dublin. He was living at 95 Lower Baggot St, Dublin
1915 Aug 12. Commissioned 2nd Lt in 6th R. Munster Fusiliers. Thomas Joseph O'Rourke . He had previously been in Leinster Regt OTC.
1916 Jun 21. 2nd Lt T J O'Rourke, Royal Munster Fusiliers is removed from the Army for absence without leave. He went AWOL from 22 Jun 1916 to 26 Jul 1916.
1916 Aug 9. Re-enlisted. He lost his commission and re-enlisted
1916 Oct 11 Posted to France. Attached to 1st R Inniskilling Fusiliers
1916 Dec 17. Wounded in action.
1916 Dec 21. Posted back to UK
1917 Jul 10. Discharged - no longer physically fit. He was still a Private. SWB
1920 Dec 11. Joined ADRIC with Service No. 1196 and was posted to "F" Company.
1921 May 28. Transferred to "I" Company
Fined £3 and £1 by Coy Commander
1922 Jan 19. Discharged on demobilisation of ADRIC
1929 married • North Sydney, New South Wales, Australiato Jean Martha May Miller (1896–1993)
1930 Apr 16 Charged with selling liquor without a license • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Fined £30, in default three months imprisonment. His wife was also convicted
1936 On electoral Roll as a hotelkeeper with his wife at Cargelligo, Riverina, New South Wales
1943 Electoral Roll - Glenmore Country Club Manager at Penrith, Macquarie, New South Wales
1946 Aug 12. Died The exact place was Lewisham private hospital, Penrith. Sydney. New South Wales.
WO 339/35130