Alexander Dowle
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 21 Aug 1874 |
| Place of Birth | Portland, South Australia |
| Death | 2 Aug 1955, aged 81 |
| Place of Death | Claremont, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 41 years old |
| Description |
5'4" (1.63m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; ruddy complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr George Dowle |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4410 |
| Date of Enlistment | 8 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 31 Mar 1916 ‒ 24 Apr 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A9 Shropshire |
| Date of Return | 8 Aug 1918 ‒ 28 Sep 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | D19 |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1906 - 1910 labourer and then mill hand at No. 6 Mill, Jarrahdale; 1912 mill hand at Worsley; 1916 No 1 Mill, Jarrahdale.
War Service
Six weeks after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Alex was allocated to the 11th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.
Sent to Egypt with only limited training, he was also sent on to Marseilles in France quickly on 10 May 1916 aboard the HMT Scotian, arriving 18 May 1916. However, on 12 Jun 1916, before he could be taken on strength by the 28th Battalion he was admitted to the 26th General Hospital at Étaples with influenza.
Evacuated to England on board the HS Stad Antwerpen on 17 Jun 1916 with bronchitis, he received treatment at the Northampton Hospital, before being released to a Convalescent Depot in Epsom on 14 Jul 1916. From 2 - 15 Sep 1916 he was granted furlough before reporting to No. 1 Command Depot at Wareham. On 8 Jan 1917 he was charged with being AWOL for five and a half hours on 26 Dec 1916, and given 24 hours detention.
Finally, on 24 Jan 1917 he proceeded overseas to France aboard HMT Princesse Clementine, where he was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 5 Feb 1917 after a stint in the division's depot near Étaples. On 25 Feb 1917 he was charged with being absent from a parade without permission, and on 19 Mar 1917 for neglecting to obey an order by appearing on parade with dirty ammunition. Both charges upheld and the penalty for the two misdemeanors was 7 days Field Punishment No.2.
Sick in hospital again from 10 - 15 May 1917, and after a brief period with the battalion, he was sent to hospital again on 5 Jun 1917. Assessed by 5th Field Ambulance as suffering with Trench Fever he was passed to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station, and then by Ambulance Train to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen arriving on 13 Jun 1917.
Evacuated to England on 16 Jun 1917 aboard HMHS Aberdonian, he was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital in Camberwell. It was 15 Nov 1917 before he was fit enough to again proceed to France through Southampton, and two days later, before he could rejoin his battalion, he was again admitted to hospital, this time the 39th General Hospital at le Havre with scabies, and again, a fortnight later, with boils.
On 20 Feb 1918 he was invalided to England due to his age and his bronchitis, but it wasn't until August 1918 that he was returned to Australia on medical grounds. Alexander was discharged by the 5th Military District on 28 Sep 1918.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 a mill hand at Jarrahdale; 1949 retired at 21 Britannia road, Leederville
Notes