William Burns (Bill) GOW MC, MID

GOW, William Burns

Service Numbers: 983, V91177, V383653, V91177, V383653
Enlisted: 6 March 1915
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 24th Infantry Battalion
Born: Harrietville, Victoria, Australia, 28 May 1893
Home Town: Harrietville, Alpine, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: School Teacher
Died: 31 December 1978, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Barrabool Hills Cemetery, Victoria
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

6 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 983, 24th Infantry Battalion
10 May 1915: Involvement Private, 983, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: ''
10 May 1915: Embarked Private, 983, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne

World War 2 Service

18 Dec 1940: Enlisted V91177
9 Jul 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, V383653
Date unknown: Involvement V91177, V383653

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Mr James GOW of Harrietville, Vic.

Prior to enlistment he was teaching at School No 3134 Glen Wills, Vic.

Military Cross

'In the attack on Mont St. Quentin on the 1st September 1918, he displayed great gallantry, initiative, and tactical skill in a marked degree. He repeatedly went forward alone in face of heavy machine gun fire and reconnoitred the position, and was thus able to push his company forward against what appeared to be insuperable opposition. After Mont St. Quentin was captured he was wounded while making a reconnaissance preparatory to a further advance.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67
Date: 3 June 1919

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Biography contributed by John Morrissey

Mentioned in dispatches 7th April 1918:

“In the attack near DAISY WOOD on 9th October 1917 this officer showed great qualities of leadership and control. He led his men with fine judgment and materially advanced the line in a very difficult operation. It was largely due to his effective leadership that the positions were held, and when other officers in the company had become casualties, he took command and did splendid work.”  London Gazette, May 28, 1918, Pg6202