The AIF Project

Frank BOWKER

Regimental number18639
Date of birth8 March 1894
Place of birthBalmain, New South Wales
SchoolFort Street Boys Model School, Sydney, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationProof reader
Address'Halcyon', Govett Street, Randwick, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinWife, Mrs V A Bowker, 'Halcyon', Govett Street, Randwick, New South Wales
Previous military service19th Infantry
Enlistment date12 January 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll31 December 1915
Rank on enlistmentGunner
Unit nameField Artillery Brigade 7, Battery 26
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/35/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire on 11 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollBombardier
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Medium Trench Mortar Battery
FateReturned to Australia 9 December 1918
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance
Discharge date24 March 1919
Other details

War service: enlisted in 1914; discharged at his parents' request.

Enlisted (second occasion), 12 January 1916, as Gunner, 17th Reinforcements, 1st Field Artillery Brigade. Embarked from Sydney, 11 May 1916; disembarked at Devonport, England, 10 July 1916. Proceeded to France, 23 November 1916. Promoted Bombardier, 23 December 1916. Hospitalised with trench fever, December 1916/January 1917. Returned to France from Training Depot, Perham Downs, via Folkestone to Boulogne, 2 July 1917.

Hospitalised December 1917 (sick, dysentery) in France, then transferred to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, on 14 February 1918.

Returned to Australia per 'Leicestershire', 23 January 1919.

Discharged Medically Unfit on 24 March 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Date of death25 November 1973
Age at death79
Place of burialCremated at Canobolas Cemetery, Orange, New South Wales on 27 November 1973. Memorial Plaque in Wall of Remembrance War Cemetery, Rookwood, Sydney

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