The AIF Project

John BOWES

Regimental number1388
Place of birthLimerick, Ireland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Address13 Best Street, East Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 7"
Weight162 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs E Bowes, 13 Best Street, East Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date8 May 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name19th Battalion, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT Ceramic on 25 June 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSapper
Unit from Nominal Roll2nd Light Railway Operating Company
FateDischarged 31 October 1917
Discharge date16 July 1920
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 25 June 1915.

Wounded in action, Gallipoli Peninsula, 20 October 1915; transferred to England, from Mudros, 23 October 1915; admitted to Brook War Hospital, Woolwich, England, 9 November 1915.

Found guilty, London, 19 January 1916, of being absent without leave from 14 January to 18 January 1916: awarded 96 hours' detention and forfeited 10 days' pay.

Taken on strength of 5th Training Bn, Rollestone, 25 July 1916.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 31 July 1916 (venereal disease: total period of treatment, 61 days); discharged from hospital, 29 September 1916; re-admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 27 October 1916 (venereal disease: total period of treatment, 4 days); discharged from hospital, 30 October 1916.

Found guilty, London, 21 November 1916, of being absent without leave from midday, 30 September to midnight, 25 October 1916 and from midday, 30 October to midnight, 6 November 1916: awarded 28 days' detention and forfeited 76 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 28 November 1916; marched in to 2nd Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, France, 30 November 1916; taken on strength of 19th Bn, 26 December 1916; detached for duty with Railway Construction Party, 27 December 1916; taken on strength of 17th Australian Light Railway Company, 11 June 1917; on leave to England, 6 December 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 23 December 1917.

Admitted to 58th Field Ambulance and transferred to 10th Casualty Clearing Station, 30 April 1918 (influenza); to No 17 Ambulance Train and transferred to 83rd General Hospital, Boulogne, 1 May 1918; to No 10 Convalescent Depot, 6 May 1918; to 1st Australian General Hospital, Havre, 9 May 1918; discharged from hospital and marched in to Australian General Base Depot, Havre, 17 May 1918.

Rejoined unit in the field, 27 May 1918; detached for duty with 1st Australian Light Railway Company, 18 June 1918; rejoined unit from detachment, 2 August 1918.

Admitted to 13th Casualty Clearing Station, 6 January 1919 (gonorrhoea); transferred to No 19 Ambulance Train, 12 January 1919; to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 14 January 1919; to England, 25 January 1919; admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, England, 26 January 1919 (venereal disease: total period of treatment, 66 days'); discharged from hospital and marched in to No 2 Group, Parkhouse, 12 March 1919.

Marched in to 2nd Training Brigade, Codford, 22 March 1919; marched out from No 3 Group, Sutton Veny, for demobilisation, 23 April 1919; granted leave from 25 April to 25 July 1919, with full pay; marched in, from leave, to Australian Imperial Force Headquarters, London, 25 July 1919; granted leave from 9 August to 26 August 1919.

Discharged in England after demobilisation, 31 October 1919; commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Ceramic', 12 March 1920; disembarked Sydney, 16 July 1920.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BOWES John

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