William Michael Bowman
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22 Jan 1896 |
| Place of Birth | Milton, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Death |
not known "not known" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation. |
| Place of Death | not known |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years |
| Description |
5'6" (1.68 m) tall ; 129lbs 58.513 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 Fremantle to Egypt |
| Date of Return | 3 Mar 1919 ‒ 21 Apr 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A14 Euripides England to Fremantle |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Keysbrook Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
William arrived in Albany, Western Australia from Sydney with his parents Henry Bowman and Emily Maria Claydon (Clayton) on 12 Jan 1897 aboard the SS Darmstadt. On arrival they moved to Fremantle
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 10 Sep 1915 he transferred to the HMS Sarnia for the journey from Mudros harbour to Anzac Cove.
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 Venereal Disease 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 Venereal Disease 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. Bill was discharged by the 5th Military District 18 Jun 1919.
Post War
Notes
identified via AIF Project site based on address at time of enlistment. William's maternal Grandmother Rachel Claydon was a Buderwang/Yuin woman from southern coastal New South Wales who had been removed from her family and fostered by Henry Christie Claydon and his wife Sarah Maria Faulks.