Private O'Rourke (1878-1957), a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force's 7th Battalion, won the Victoria Cross in the course of the operations to capture Hill 70 near Lens, France between August 15th and 17th, 1917. The citation to the award, published in the London Gazette (8 November, 1917) tells his story:
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during prolonged operations. For three days and nights Private O'Rourke, who is a stretcher bearer, worked unceasingly in bringing the wounded into safety, dressing them, and getting them food and water. During the whole of this period, the area in which he worked was subjected to very severe shelling and swept by heavy machine gun and rifle fire. On several occasions he was knocked down and partially buried by enemy shells. Seeing a comrade who had been blinded stumbling around ahead of our trench, in full view of the enemy, who were sniping at him, Private O'Rourke jumped out of his trench and brought the man back, being heavily sniped at while doing so. Again he went forward about fifty yards in front of our barrage under very heavy and accurate fire from enemy machine guns and snipers, and brought in a comrade. On a subsequent occasion, when the line of advanced posts were retired to the line to be consolidated, he went forward under very heavy enemy fire of every description and brought back a wounded man who had been left behind. He showed throughout an absolute disregard for his own safety, going wherever there were wounded to succour, and his magnificent courage and devotion in continuing his rescue work, in spite of exhaustion and incessant heavy enemy fire of every description, inspired all ranks and undoubtedly saved many lives.
Ernest Fosbery (1874-1960) was born in Ottawa, where he studied art. Later he trained in Paris and taught in Buffalo, attaining an international reputation. His artistic career was interrupted by the First World War, but he subsequently played an influential part in the development of the Canadian War Memorials Collection, notably in advocating the use of Canadian artists. Lord Beaverbrook knew little about the Canadian art scene; it was through Fosbery that painters such as A.Y. Jackson were brought into the programme.
This oil painting (101.6 x 76.2 cm) evokes the quiet, inner strength and devotion which propelled O'Rourke into action. Traditionally, when artists created portraits they included one or more attributes or symbols which reflected the sitter's importance or personality. Here Fosbery has incorporated an appropriate element from the subject's experience - the stretcher with which he transported so many men to safety.
Courtesy: Canadian War Museum, National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada (8163)
