Brigadier Murray William James Bourchier

Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Colonel, Major
Birth Date 04/04/1881
Death Date 16/12/1937
Final Rank Brigadier
Service Australian Imperial Force
Unit 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Murray William James Bourchier was born on 4 April 1881 at Pootilla, Bungaree, Victoria. He was educated in Melbourne, and in 1909 commanded a troop of light horse. At the outbreak of World War I, he was commissioned into the AIF as a lieutenant and left with the first contingent overseas. He served seven months on Gallipoli, and during the Sinai campaign in 1916-17 led the final assault on Beersheba. In 1918 after fighting through Palestine, he commanded a joint force in the final advance on Damascus. After returning to Australia, he remained an officer in the CMF, being promoted to Brigadier in 1931.

Bourchier was elected to the Victoria Parliament in 1921 and served in many roles until 1935. He died on 16 December 1937 while in London. He was posthumously knighted in 1938.

Collection items

    Document


    Diary of Philip Arthur Chambers, 1917-1918

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 04/04/1881
Date of enlistment 25/08/1914
Date of embarkation 19/10/1914
Date of recommendation honour or award 15/02/1916
Date of recommendation honour or award 13/02/1916
Other 1916-05-27 - 1918-01-28 Commanding Officer of the 4th Light Horse Regiment.
Date of recommendation honour or award 02/11/1917
Date of recommendation honour or award 23/12/1918
Other 1918-12-16 - 1919-04-27 Commanding Officer of the 4th Light Horse Regiment.
Other 1918-01-03 - 1918-09-28 Commanding Officer of the 4th Light Horse Regiment.
Date of recommendation honour or award 14/06/1918
Date returned to Australia 13/06/1919
Date returned to Australia 13/06/1919
Date of death 16/12/1937

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