Ernest Alfred GOWER

Ernest Alfred GOWER Update Details

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GOWER, Ernest Alfred

Service Number:	3387
Enlisted:	30 October 1916, Toowoomba, Queensland
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	42nd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Burton, South Australia, 23 June 1889
Home Town:	Chinchilla, Western Downs, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 31 August 1918, aged 29 years
Cemetery:	Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension Plot V, Row D, Grave 27
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane 42nd Infantry Battalion AIF Roll of Honour, Chinchilla War Memorial, Williamstown Mt Crawford Honour Roll

World War 1 Service

30 Oct 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3387, Toowoomba, Queensland
24 Jan 1917:	Involvement Private, 3387, 52nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: ''
24 Jan 1917:	Embarked Private, 3387, 52nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Sydney
31 Aug 1918:	Involvement Private, 3387, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3387 awm_unit: 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-08-31

Help us honour Ernest Alfred Gower's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Julianne Ryan

Born 23/6/1889 in Burton, near Bolivar, South Australia

Father:- Stephen GOWER b. 24/12/1845 Adelaide, SA - d. 17/12/1932 Chinchilla QLD (his father John Gower 1809-1869 and his mother Maryann Cramp 1813-1920)

1st marriage

Mary Ann Bride STANLEY (b. 1849 – d. 5/5/1875 Williamstown SA– her father William STANLEY)

Married 9/4/1867, Registry Office Gawler, SA

Children:

Charlotte Priscilla GOWER b. 26/2/1868 Williamstown, SA – d.

Married 1903 in SA – to Peter Henry POPE

John Wesley GOWER b. 6/8/1869 Lyndoch Valley, SA – d 1872

Stephen George GOWER b. 30/8/1871 Mount Crawford, SA

William Wesley GOWER b. 13/10/1873 Williamstown, SA

Henry GOWER b. 24/4/1875 Yatta Creek, SA – d. 1875

2nd marriage

Ernest’s mother:

Mother Lucy GOWER (nee Vinall b. 12/2/1859 Lyndoch SA – d. 17/3/1947 Chinchilla QLD) – (her father Edward Vinall and her mother Maryann Vinall)

married 31 Oct 1876 in Holy Trinity Church, Lyndoch, SA

lived in Wongongora Road, Chinchilla, Queensland

Children:

Bertram Edward Gower b. 13/9/1877, near Wiliamstown, SA

married 29/3/1900 Eden Valley, SA

wife: Laura May Buckley (b.26/5/1881 Lyndoch, SA)

Child: Sarah Ivy Gower 1906 Mt Crawford

Eveline GOWER b. 26/8/1879 Williamstown, SA

married 1/9/1902

Husband: Charles WALTERS (b. 1856 SA)

Walter David GOWER b. 12/11/1881 Williamstown, SA

Lillian Mary GOWER b. 11/11/1883 Peachy Belt, SA

married 15/8/1905 in Eden Valley, SA

Husband: Walter William BUCKLEY (b. 21/12/1878 Lyndoch)

Lucy Jane GOWER b. 19/10/1885 Penfield, SA

Archibald Albert GOWER b. 28/12/1886 Penfield, SA

married 20/4/1911 in Eden Valley, SA

wife: Louise Auguste Schultz (b. 1886)

ERNEST ALFRED GOWER b. 23/6/1889 in Burton, near Bolivar, SA

Emily Ann GOWER b. 2/7/1891 Mount Crawford, SA

married 30/3/1910 in Pewsey Vale, SA

husband: William Samuel Frank BITTER (b. 24/8/1887 Lyndoch –d. 1947)

child: Muriel Elsie b. 1911

m. 1929 to Ernest Roy OERMANN (1904-1936)

Elsie GOWER b. 31/10/1893 Corryton Park, Mount Crawford, SA

Violet May GOWER b. 20/7/1896 Mount Crawford, SA

Silvia Hilda GOWER b. 31/10/1898 Mount Crawford, SA – d. 4/4/1905 Mt Crawford

Ernest had lived with his parents in Chinchilla, Queensland prior to enlisting.

Prior to enlisting Ernest worked as a farmer.

He was described as 26 years 4 months of age; single; 5’ 6” tall; 145 lbs; medium complexion; fair hair

30/10/1916 enlisted at Toowoomba, Queensland

as a Private with 9th reinforcements, 52nd Infantry Battalion

24/1/1917 embarked from Sydney, New South Wales onboard HMAT A33 Ayrshire

as a Private with 42nd Infantry Battalion

12/4/1917 disembarked into Davenport, England

2/7/1917 proceeded overseas to France

3/7/1917 marched into Havre, France

22/7/1917 taken on strength into 42nd Infantry Battalion, in the field, France

8/9/1917 admitted to hospital with Myalgia

9/9/1917 transferred to 39th Stationary Hospital

14/10/1917 transferred to England

15/10/1917 embarked for England onboard Princess Elizabeth

15/10/1917 admitted to hospital with Pleurisy, into Cambridge, England

1-15/2/1918 furlough (leave), Cambridge, England

2/5/1918 marched out to No.3 C Depot, Parkhouse

20/7/1918 marched out to overseas training brigade

16/8/1918 marched in to Rouelles, France

24/8/1918 taken on strength into 42nd Infantry Battalion, in the field

31/8/1918 killed in action

Buried in: Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, France

Plot V, Row D, Grave 27

His name is commemorated on Panel 135 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Medals: British War medal (55493); Victory Medal (54613); Memorial Plaque and Scroll (350923)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan 02/11/2020. Lest we forget.

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