William Michael Bowman

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Sydney, New South Wales
Death	not known
Place of Death	not known
Age at Enlistment	20 years
Description	5'6" (1.68 m) tall; weight 129 lbs (58.5 kg); dark complexion, grey eyes, black hair.
Occupation	labourer
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Keysbrook, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr William Bowman
Military Information
Reg Number	1515
Date of Enlistment	3 May 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement, transferred to Australian Army Service Corps / 5th Division
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1915 - 30 Jun 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A2 Geelong
Date of Return	3 Mar 1919 - 21 Apr 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A14 Euripides
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Keysbrook
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Enlisted in Pinjarra. On entry to camp was allocated to the 28th Battalion, 1st reinforcement draft. Following training the battalion was prepared for travel to Egypt, with the 1st Reinforcements travelling separate to, and in advance of the battalion proper aboard HMAT A2 Geelong.

William joined 28th Battalion proper on 18 Aug 1915 while they are manning the Cairo Citadel. On 3 Sep 1915 the 28th entrained for Alexandria where they boarded the HMT Ivernia and sailed for Gallipoli at 5pm on 4 Sep 1915.

On 2 Oct 1915 William presented to the 7th Field Ambulance with influenza before being seen by the 16th Casualty Clearing Station on 7 Oct 1915. Diagnosed with meningitis he was placed on board HMHS Soudan and on 13 Oct 1915 he was admitted to hospital in Malta. Later evacuated to England, he was admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford on 9 Sep 1915.

On recovery Bill was sent to the Australian Convalescent Depot and then to Monte Video camp at Weymouth before being reclassified and transferred to the Service Corps as a driver on 30 Aug 1916. During this period he is treated for VD from 11 Feb to 21 Apr 1916.

Bill was AWOL from 6 Oct to 8 Oct 1916 while based at Park House. On 26 Oct 1916 he was taken on strength of the 3rd Division Training Base Details before being admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital with malaria on 26 Nov 1916. Released from hospital on 5 Dec 1916.

From 31 Mar 1917 to 8 Aug 1917 (a total of 131 days), he was treated for VD at the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Bulford.

In late September he faced a District Court Martial in Hurdcott for being AWOL from 9 - 29 Sep 1917, before being found guilty and goaled for 42 days in the Chelmsford Detention Barracks. Total loss of pay was 82 days.

William returned to France via Southampton on 19 Dec 1917, soon after being charged with neglecting to obey AIF HQ Orders. On 4 Jan 1918 he was taken on strength by the 5th Division Train and remained with them, trouble free, until he reported sick to hospital on 29 Oct 1918. Transferred to England on 3 Nov 1918, he was sent home on 3 Mar 1919 with bronchial pneumonia. During the voyage home he spent two days in the ship's hospital with heat stroke.

Discharged 5th Military District 18 Jun 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 at Trees Mill, a sawyer

Notes

identified via AIF Project site based on address at time of enlistment.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial Gallipoli France