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Here is my grandfather, now Serjeant O'Rourke (with a J, not a G!). Don't know who his comrade standing behind him is.
Both photos appear posed in some makeshift set, so wonder if this was routine provided by army while out in service.

Additional information ref your Grandfather and his WW1 service.
I noticed you mentioned his RE DCM entitlement. 5th Company Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers. Also his medal card records his 3 years in Egypt. Attached, a few pointers for future research.




No 5 company Royal Monmouthshire R E

Dave - thanks a million for this.
I can hardly believe the amazing responses from yourself & Neville - you are quite the heroes yourselves!
"Daddy Mick" as we always knew him married a Glasgow teacher, lived & worked in the Post Office in Dublin until retirement and never spoke of his army life. Other than being told of recurring problems from a bullet-wounded leg & malaria, and that he had a box of medals, we knew nothing.
Before my mother was born (in1921), he insisted his wife had the baby in Glasgow. In the post-black and tan/Irish civil war era, Gran's Scottish accent led to her getting verbal abuse & even spat upon on several occasions. Being married to a former British soldier was not helpful.
So, quite understandable he should stay quiet about his service, but it must have been very hard not having the companionship of other veterans and open reunions to remember comrades & share their memories.
Belatedly for sure, but we want to try to understand what he went through and achieved, and express the respect and honour we believe he deserves.
Thank you for helping us to do so.

Colm...Happy to help, many thanks for sharing your story. Neville's pictures are excellent.
Just one last snippet for you. Michael's citation for his DCM for your records.


Very best wishes

Dave........

The DCM to balloonist Sgt W J Wellman, RE: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...-war?start=378#87358