| Regimental number | 2590 |
| Place of birth | Mangalore, Victoria |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Occupation | Grocers assistant |
| Address | Seymour, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 23 |
| Next of kin | Father, James Cowley, Seymour, Victoria |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 24th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/41/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 57th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
Military Medal 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 26/9/17 Private Frank COWLEY was employed at Brigade Ammunition Dump in GLENCORSE WOOD. A German 5.9" shell hit the dump and set fire to 40 boxes of Smoke Bombs and also a large dump of Mills Grenades. This man rushed out of a dugout, together with a bomber, and despite the dense smoke cloud shovelled loose earth on the fire and after about 20 minutes strenuous work managed to smother it. During this time the Mills Grenades were exploding all over the place and the dump was being very heavily shelled. This was the main forward Brigade Dump from which all ammunition was being forwarded to the front line to supply the demands of the attacking Battalions and was saved from absolute destruction by the excellent work and determination of these two men [COWLEY and 2752 R.J. NICKELSON] at great personal risk. Whilst returning from the dump to his dugout a few yards away after smothering the fire, this N.C.O. [NICKELSON] was badly wounded by shell fire.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: |
| Family/military connections | Cousins: 3117 Pte William Frederick PRATT, 46th Bn, killed in action, 30 August 1916; Pte Walter Henry PRATT, Depot Bn, died of disease, 16 August 1915 (did not embark). |
| Other details | Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
