Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Thomas Andrew Bovell (Service Nos:W25706/WX26667) enlisted in the ACMF on 21 June 1941, and was attached to 44th Infantry Battalion on 10 July 1942 when he transferred to the AIF. Private Bovell was posted to 2/17 Infantry Battalion (Trade Group - Storeman), and was attached to 44th Infantry Battalion at Discharge on 31 October 1944 - Essential Services (Dairying). Younger brother Les (Service Nos:WP6267/WX34872) also served in WWII, and youngest brother Ron enlisted in the Army and the Navy (giving an incorrect birthdate to increase his age) in 1946 and 1947.

Tom was born in Kirup via Donnybrook, Western Australia in 1918, fifth of nine children of Aubrey Leonard Bovell (b1890 in Blackwood, Western Australia) and Edith Lina Flemming (b1893 in York, Western Australia). Aubrey was a Labourer in Mallalyup via Balingup in 1912 when he and Edith married in Donnybrook. The couple lived in Donnybrook and Mullalyup, where they raised their family and Aubrey was a Timber Hewer. In 1918 they settled in Kirup and Aubrey worked for the Railways (WAGR) as a  Repairer until the early 1930s, when the family returned to Mullalyup and Aubrey worked again as a Timber Hewer. Aubrey and Edith moved to Perth in the 1940s - Aubrey worked as a Labourer.

Tom worked as a Dairy Hand in Boyanup when he left school, and was a Dairy Farmer when he enlisted in the Army in 1941. Following his Discharge, Tom returned to Boyanup, where he was a Farmer in 1947 when he married Ethel May Bevan (nee Kirk; b1918 in Perth, Western Australia). Tom and Ethel married in Bassendean, and settled in Boyanup, where they raised their family and Tom was a Dairy Farmer. In the mid 1970's Tom and Ethel settled in Busselton - Tom died in 1987 and Ethel in 2008.