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My dad James O'Rourke will never forget where he was on VE Day, because he was at Buckingham Palace with his brother, both being presented with the Military Medal by the king. He said that the presentation ceremony had been arranged ages before, it just so happened that it turned out to be on the same day they declared Victory in Europe.
An extract from a newspaper cutting: "Mr and Mrs O'Rourke will have good reason to remember VE Day for their two sons - Lance Sergeant William O'Rourke, The Coldstream Guards and James O'Rourke formerly a corporal in the Green Howards, were each decorated with the MM. They were presented to the King in immediate sequence and the similarity of names caused His Majesty to ask "are you brothers?" Learning that this was so the King talked for several minutes with the brothers about their war experiences. Both William and James were in the El Alamein and subsequent battles in North Africa. William gained the award in the early days of the advance and James at El Akarat." My dad recalls the King enquire if my dad had work, as he had been discharged because of his injuries, and when dad replied that he had, the King said that if he should ever need his help that he should contact the kings personnel. The following is from another newspaper cutting from the time:
"Cpl James O'Rourke (23) son of Mr and Mrs Francis O'Rourke, of Chester Street, Middlesbrough has been awarded the MM for courage and resource in the North African fighting.
The official citation says:"Cpl. James O'Rourke Green Howard of Middlesbrough was a member of a fighting patrol which was attacking enemy positions in early April.
"When his officer was wounded he at once assumed command and led his men to their objective, an anti-tank ditch which was being enfiladed by an enemy machine-gun. Here he led a charge along the mud soaked 200 yards of ditch firing his Tommy-gun.
"This silenced the post and he brought back six prisoners. He then continued to engage the enemy at close range until ordered to retreat, when he brought back wounded men under constant fire."
My dad is now 85 and I'm taking him to Tunisia with my husband and our two sons in August. Staying in Monastir, we're hoping to visit Wadi Akarit or the war museum in Sfax where his officer Colonel Seagram is buried. If we do, it will be an emotional event, because most of the platoon were lost here and the Colonel was well respected. My dad remembers him arranging cricket matches and joining in with the men. He also remembers vividly how he met his death.

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