DOWLING, John William
| Service Numbers: | 1733, V355352 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 December 1914, Leongatha, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Volunteer Defence Corps (VIC) |
| Born: | Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England, 18 November 1884 |
| Home Town: | Wooreen, South Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | England |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Victoria, Australia, 12 October 1960, aged 75 years |
| Cemetery: |
Leongatha Cemetery Ang E 041 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1733, 14th Infantry Battalion, Leongatha, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1915: | Involvement Private, 1733, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Mar 1915: | Embarked Private, 1733, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Melbourne |
World War 2 Service
| 2 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, V355352, Volunteer Defence Corps (VIC), Leongatha, Vic. |
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Help us honour John William Dowling's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
John William Dowling Reg No. 1733 was born 18th November 1884 in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. In the 1911 English Census, John (junior) was aged 16 and working as a Bakery Apprentice, His parents John Edwin and Bernie Dowling were , Innkeepers of The Crown Inn (previously managed the Horseshoe Inn), his two older sisters were Assistant Housekeepers and his two younger brothers were at school. 29th November 1912, John emigrated from England, departing port of London on the P&O Ship Beltana bound for Australia. He listed his occupation as “farmer”.
John came to live at Wooreen where he worked for Mr J.A. Campbell at Lot 81B at the junction of Forresters/Yarragon Leongatha Road and the adjacent block, Lot 82c which ran down to the Tarwin River. On the 19th December 1914, he enlisted at Leongatha in the 14th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements aged 20. He was described as 5’8”, fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. On 25th March 1916 he was taken on strength to 4th Field Bakery. The unit departed Melbourne on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 29th March 1915 bound for Alexandria, Egypt.
9th July 1915 John was admitted to hospital with influenza and dysentery. He was treated in Malta and Lemnos, rejoining his unit 4th March 1916 at Tel el Kebir in Egypt. 6th June 1916 the unit embarked for France, arriving in Marseilles 13th June. John was again admitted to hospital 9th July 1916 at Rouen before being transferred to Camiens and Etaples. He rejoined his unit 7th Dec 1916. He was readmitted to hospital in February 1917 with influenza, and subsequent pneumonia and was transferred to England for treatment. In Jun 1917 he was posted to Larkhill. 2nd May 1918 he proceeded overseas to France to the Australian Bakers and Butchers Reinforcements Depot at Havre and then to Rouen. 21st Feb 1919 he embarked France for England, and was attached to the 2nd Training Brigade before returning to Australia, departing England on 19th April on the Sardenia.
John returned to Wooreen following his discharge from the army, to live and work with Mr J. Campbell. On 22nd September 1919 he applied for a Soldier Settlement Lease of Lot 86D and part of adjoining Allotment 95A. In 1923 John married Elsie May Clery. He died in 1960 and is buried in the Leongatha Cemetery.
Courtesy of Avenel Jane
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