MCGOWAN, Joseph Bernard
| Service Number: | 473 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 July 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dubbo, New South Wales, December 1879 |
| Home Town: | Waratah West, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive engine driver/Plate layer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 24 March 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Wallonie, Belgium La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, La Plus Douve, Wallonie, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Waratah Memorial Gates |
Boer War Service
| 1 Jan 1899: | Involvement Served 2 years 8 months with Australian Bushmen, South African Campaign. |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 473, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 473, 30th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 473, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 21 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
| 28 Sep 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Polygon Wood, For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.He went forward alone and captured an ememy post, killing or capturing a whole garrison. | |
| 24 Mar 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 473, 30th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 473 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Company Sergeant Major awm_died_date: 1918-03-24 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"...Joseph Bernard McGowan... An engineer from Newcastle, NSW, 473 Private McGowan embarked with B Company, 30th Battalion, from Sydney aboard HMAT Beltana (A72) on 9 November 1915. During his service he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major (CSM). In 1917 CSM McGowan was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1917 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His citation published in the London and Commonwealth of Australia Gazette reads: "He went forward alone and captured an enemy post, killing or capturing the whole garrison. Later, when an NCO of the company was badly wounded, he went in while under heavy shell and rifle fire and brought him in. His courage and initiative have at all times been a very fine example to his men." CSM McGowan was killed in action in Belgium on 24 March 1918..." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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