Bert Bowen

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 25/08/2015 - 11:20

First Name:

Bert

Last Name:

Bowen

Mother's Name:

Hanna Bowen

Father's Name:

Richard Bowen

Date Enlisted:

Friday, March 10, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

36th Battalion

Company:

B Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, April 4, 1918

Place of Death:

Villers- Bretonneux France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Bert Bowen (Service No 2152) was born in Staffordshire, England about 1893. He arrived in Australia in May 1914. At the time of enlistment he was a married 23 year old miner from Bellambi, NSW. His wife Annie is listed as next of kin. He embarked on HMAT A68 Anchises on 24th August 1916 with 3rd Reinforcements, 36th Battalion.

After arriving in England Bert was sent to France and joined B Company on 22nd November 1916. On 7th June 1917 he was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital for treatment to a gun shot wound over his left eye. He returned to the Company on 19th June and saw service on the Western Front with them as a company runner.

At approximately 5pm on the 4th April 1918, Bert arrived at the front line with a message when a counter attack was underway. He was hit by a machine gun bullet and killed. Bert was buried at the site but the grave has been lost. He is remembered on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux.

Sources:

NAA B2455, BOWEN B