MCGOWAN, Robert
| Service Numbers: | 3443, 3443A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1916, Enlisted at Murrumburrah. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 36th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Harthill, Scotland, United Kingdom, 5 May 1890 |
| Home Town: | Lithgow, Lithgow, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Guard |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 12 October 1917, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Harden WW1 Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Dec 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3443, 56th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Murrumburrah. | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement Private, 3443, 56th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked Private, 3443, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 3443A, 36th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3443A awm_unit: 36th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-12 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Robert MCGOWAN (Service Number 3443A) was born on 5th May 1890 a Harthill, Scotland. He first worked for the NSW Government Railways as a temporary porter at Eskbank (Lithgow) from 5th May 1913. He quickly progressed to porter and 3rd class shunter. In March 1914 he had became an Assistant Guard at Penrith. McGowan seemed particular about where he worked for his card records that he declined 2nd class shunter positions at Eskbank, Clyde and Darling Harbour, and Guard’s positions at nine stations. On 22nd July 1915 he did accept the 2nd class shunter position at Darling Harbour,. In March 1916 he became a guard based at Harden. He was granted Military Leave on 31st December 1916. He had already enlisted a month earlier and had entered camp on 20th December. His card records that he remained loyal during the Railway and Tramway Strike of 1917. This is a nominal record because he was in Europe under military discipline at the time.
He enlisted at Murrumburrah on 1st December 1916. Being unmarried he nominated his mother living in Scotland as his next of kin. He also claimed to have served in the Territorial Forces in England for three years. He embarked HMAT ‘Anchises’ at Sydney on 24th January 1917 and reached Devonport (England) on 27th March. He was allotted to the 14th Training Battalion and taken on the strength of the 63rd Battalion on 28th April.
In August he proceeded overseas to France. He was taken on the strength of the 36th Battalion. Six weeks later, on 12th October 1917, he was reported missing in action in Belgium. This status remained until 2nd March 1918, when it was replaced by ‘Killed in Action’.
Robert McGowan has no known grave and his name is:
‘…. inscribed on the Memorial to the Missing erected at Menin Gate, Ypres, in common with those of upwards of 6000 other Australian soldiers who fell in Belgium and have no known graves.’ (Letter from military to McGowan’s uncle living in Sydney, 26 November 1928).
- based on notes for the Australian War Memorial and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.