Mr John Bourke

Mr John Bourke, 28, a farmer from Carrowskehine, was born in May 1869 the son of William Bourke and Mary O'Boyle. On 17 January 1911 he was married to Catherine McHugh of Tawnagh, Co Mayo. John, his wife and sister Mary were bound for Chicago. They joined a group of Co Mayo passengers led by Katherine McGowan. He, and the others boarded the Titanic at Queenstown as third class passengers (ticket number 364849, £15, 10s). He purchased his ticket from Thomas Durcan of Castlebar.

On the night of the sinking, John and Patrick Canavan remembered the presence of a ladder which led to higher decks. They are reported to have gathered women and children around them and helped them up to the higher deck. However Catherine and Mary refused to remain in lifeboat 16 when they realised that John would be left behind. All three perished in the disaster. John's body, if recovered, has never been identified.

Sources
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279]).
Noel Ray (1999) List of Passengers who Boarded RMS Titanic at Queenstown, April 11, 1912. The Irish Titanic Historical Society

Contributors
Cameron Bell, Northern Ireland
Noel Ray, Ireland

Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Mrs Catherine Bourke