John Ambrose McDowell

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 19/05/2017 - 12:32

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Ambrose

Last Name:

McDowell

Date of Birth:

Monday, July 9, 1888

Mother's Name:

Fannie McDowell

Father's Name:

Alexander McDowell

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, March 11, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Lieutenant

Rank at Discharge:

Major

Unit:

18th Battalion, 33rd Battalion, 35th Battalion and 36th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, February 4, 1932

Place of Death:

Randwick Military Hospital, Sydney

Cause of Death:

War related

Details:

John McDowell was born in Sydney in 1888. On 6th July 1910 he married Naida Butters in Katoomba, N.S.W.

At enlistment John was 27 years old and employed as a civil servant. He nominated Naida who was living at Dapto, N.S.W. as his next of kin.

He embarked for Rabaul with the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force and served from 5th November 1914 until 4th March 1915.

John then enlisted in the AIF on 15th March 1915 and was given the rank of Captain. He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic with 18th Battalion, B Company on 25th June 1915.

While fighting at Gallipoli John was wounded in action on 23rd September 1915 and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of shell concussion.

He was returned to Australia for rest for 6 months due to his injury. He was returned to England on 23rd June 1916 and arrived in France on 21st November 1916.

John saw service on the Western Front with a number of battalions, serving as intelligence officer and a commanding officer.

He was promoted to Major on 13th May 1917.

On 28 February 1918 John was recommended for a Mention in Despatches award.

At about 1.10 pm on 12th April 1918 John was at Battalion Headquarters when it was hit by a howitzer shell killing a number of men and wounding others. John was seriously wounded in the attack and evacuated to hospital for treatment of multiple wounds to his scalp,arm and both legs.

He was repatriated to Australia in July 1918 and after further treatment discharged from the AIF on 7th April 1919.

He and Naida had 2 sons. John died as a result of his war injuries in 1932.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, MCDOWELL J A