COWIE, Alexander Bruce
| Service Number: | NX111794 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 July 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 10 May 1922 |
| Home Town: | Bexley, Rockdale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Tempe Boys High, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Watchmaker and jeweller |
| Died: | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 20 April 1993, aged 70 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Woronora General Cemetery, New South Wales |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 16 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, NX111794, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, NX111794, 2nd/17th Infantry Battalion |
Brief Life story Alexander Bruce Cowie
Alexander Bruce Cowie was born in Croydon NSW on 10th May 1922 where he grew up in Bexley NSW. After leaving school in 1937 he was apprenticed as a watchmaker at Listers & Sons Sydney.
On the 31st January 1942 Alex (NX111794) enlisted in the Citizen Military Force. On the 16th July Alex transferred to the AIF where he served in the 2/7th Battalion 6 Division. His was then sent to Miline Bay then Buna-Gona New Guinea in late 1942. Alex served 781 days in active service in New Guinea on the front line. In March 1946 Alex was finally shipped back home from Wewak New guinea and was discharged at the rank of Corporal on 21st June 1946.
Alex went back to finish his apprenticeship as a watch maker and Jeweller. He married Hilary Stephenson in August 1946 in Arncliffe NSW. Alex and his wife ran a very successful Watch Makers & Jewellery store in Revesby for over 20 years. In that time they Built a house at Illawong NSW and had two sons Brian Lennard Cowie (8/4/1949) and William Arthur Cowie (16/4/1953).
On retirement in 1986 Alex and Hilary Moved to Wombarra NSW where he passed away on 20/4/1993 leaving behind a wife, two sons and 6 grandchildren.
Submitted 3 July 2026 by William Cowie
Click images to start slideshow.