78101
MOWAT, Reginald Henri
| Service Number: | 31362 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 5th Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Kent town, South Australia, 30 October 1891 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Norwood Public School, Prince Alfred College and Roseworthy College |
| Occupation: | Viticulturist |
| Died: | Killara, New South Wales, 2 April 1952, aged 60 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board, Roseworthy Agricultural College Roll of Honour, Unley Sturt Football Club WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 31362, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 31362, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Gunner, 31362, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, RMS Orontes, Melbourne | |
| 17 Jun 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Gunner, 31362, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Reginald Henri Mowat was born on the 30th of October 1891 in Kent Town, South Australia. He attended Norwood Public School for primary school, Prince Alfred College for high school and Roseworthy College for further studies. Mowat lived in Norwood with his aunt and older brother for most of his childhood due to his parents dying. Before the war in Mowat’s spare time he played football for Sturt in 1914 and his nickname was Reg Mowat. Mowat enlisted in the war at the age of 24 on the 21st of August 1916, in Melbourne, Victoria and at this time his appearance was described as black hair, brown eyes, height 6’1” and he weighed 186 lbs.
Reginald Henri Mowat enlisted on the 21st of August 1916 joined the Australian Imperial Force to fight in WW1 from 1916 to 1918. He joined the army of the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column and was given the responsibility of being a Gunner. A Gunner is a soldier who occupies a dedicated gun position in a military vehicle or artillery. After enlisting in the war Mowat was sent to train. Training consisted of familiarising the men with basic training on rifles and small arm weapon. On the 23rd of December 1916 Mowat departed from Melbourne and travelled on the ship R.M.S Orontes.
He arrived at Plymouth on the 17th February 1917 and was taken on strength to the 338th Siege Battery on the 1st March 1917 and marched in to the No. 3 Camp at Parkhouse. On the 29th of April 1919, Mowat, unfortunately fell ill with Severe Myalgia (a common virus that causes muscle discomfort and aches) however, quickly recovered and was discharged from hospital not long after and proceeded to France on the 12th July 1917 and transferred to the 55th Seige Battery on the 14th July to increase the number of gunners.
Unfortunately, during the war Mowat’s brother Cedric James William Mowat, who was also ranked as a gunner was killed in action on the 1st of August 1917.
Reg had another hospital stay with Myalgia in from late November 1917 until February 1918. Due to his poor health he was sent back to Australia on the 10th March 1918.
It is presumed that Mowat met his spouse, Jean Lorna Kitamura soon after he arrived in Sydney, and they later married. Mowat never returned to South Australia after serving in the war, he decided to live in New South Wales until his passing on the 2nd of April 1952 in Killara when he was only 60 years old.
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