MCCOWAN, Colin Douglas
| Service Number: | 167 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 October 1915, Enlisted at Lismore, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 42nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Palmer's Channel, New South Wales, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Mullumbimby, Byron Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Palmers Channel Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Messines, Belgium, 24 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 27 - Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane 42nd Infantry Battalion AIF Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Nambour Heroes Walk, Nambour Maroochy Shire War Dead Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 167, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Lismore, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 42nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Involvement Corporal, 167, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Embarked Corporal, 167, 42nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 167, 42nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda arrived at Southhampton, England, on 23 July 1916. While the Battle of the Somme was happening in France the 42nd Battalion as part of the AIF 3rd Division was in training under General Monash on the Salisbury Plain in England before proceeding to France on 25 November 1916. | |
| 25 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 167, 42nd Infantry Battalion, The 3rd Division AIF including 42nd Battalion remained in French Flanders in the Armentieres Sector until mid-March when they moved across the border to Ploegsteert in Belgium. They were then involved in the Battle of Messines which commenced on 7 June 1917 with the detonation of many underground mines, and 42nd Battalion moved up on 8 June in support of the initial attack. They were relieved from the front line on 11 June. Colin McCowan was promoted to Sergeant on 15 June 1917. The 42nd Battalion moved back into the front line at Messines on 23 June 1917. On the evening of 24 June Colin McCowan was wounded but not seriously and directed to go to the aid post. He never arrived. According to an eyewitness he was assisting to fix sandbags in a sub back trench when hit by an artillery shell and his remains were not found. The eyewitness referred to Colin as a "Stout fellow". | |
| 15 Jun 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 42nd Infantry Battalion, IN the field | |
| 24 Jun 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 167, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 167 awm_unit: 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-06-24 |
Help us honour Colin Douglas McCowan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Alexander and Annie McCowan of Mullumbimby, Brunswick River, NSW later of North Arm, North Coast Line, QLD
8 January 1917 - to hospital with Mumps
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Greg Towner
Colin Douglas McCowan was born in Maclean in 1892, probably in May, to Alexander and Annie McCowan (nee McDonald). The McCowans had a sugar cane farm and sugar mill and Colin attended Palmers Channel Public School. After finishing schooling Colin worked on the family farm but then became a labourer to supplement the family income. The family moved to Mullimbimby before Colin enlisted in the AIF in Lismore on 18 October 1915 at the age of 23 years and 5 months.
Colin was described as a caring and much liked older brother to his three sisters and three brothers. When he enlisted he was 172 cm high, weighed 64 kg, had a dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair.
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