Regimental number | 2932 |
Place of birth | Battersea, London, England |
School | Honeywell Road Higher Grade London County Council School, England |
Age on arrival in Australia | 19.8 |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Clerk |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 22 |
Height | 5' 8.5" |
Weight | 143 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, A E Bowden, 23 Berber Road, Clapham Common, London, England |
Previous military service | Nil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of heart) |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 8th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/25/3 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board SS Makarini on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
Date of death | |
Age at death | 22.10 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 19), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 169 |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Admitted to 16th Stationary Hospital, Mudros, 25 November 1915 (ring worm); transferred to 24th Casualty Clearing Station, 29 November 1916; discharged, 2 December 1915; rejoined 8th Bn, Anzac, Gallipoli, 7 December 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation). Transferred to 60th Bn, and taken on strength, Serapeum, 24 February 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Note on Red Cross File No 470905: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.' Statement, 783 Sergeant A.J. FERGUSON, 60th Bn (patient, Napsbury War Hospital, St Albans, England), 30 May 1917: 'It was at Fleurbaix. I was lying at Bowden's side when a piece of shell hit him in the back and nearly cut him in half. I did my best for him and on going to him I found his back torn open and his back shattered. I was myself wounded a few minutes later and consequently can say nothing more.' Second statement by 783 Sergeant A.J. FERGUSON, 60th Bn, 20 July 1917: 'I saw the above mentioned soldier cut in half by a shell on the 19.7.16 at Fleurbaix. We were half away across No Man's Land when he was struck. I was wounded a few minutes later, so could not say what became of his body.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, BOWDEN Frank Arthur
Red Cross File No 470905 |