GOWER, William Harold
| Service Number: | 14604 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | Field Artillery Brigades |
| Born: | Latrobe, Tasmania, Australia, 17 November 1894 |
| Home Town: | Korumburra, South Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Influenza & Pneumonia, Rotherham, England, United Kingdom, 4 November 1918, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery Grave B3. N.G. 24., Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Latrobe War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 14604, 4th Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 14604, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 14604, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Port Lincoln, Melbourne | |
| 2 Feb 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 1 Mar 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Driver, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 22 Jul 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 5th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 31 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Driver, 14604, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , Mont St Quentin / Peronne, SW to head Died of Illness when on furlo | |
| 4 Nov 1918: | Involvement Driver, 14604, Field Artillery Brigades, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 14604 awm_unit: Australian Field Artillery awm_rank: Driver awm_died_date: 1918-11-04 |
Help us honour William Harold Gower's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
William Harold Gower was born on 17th November, 1894 at Latrobe, Tasmania. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 28th February, 1915 as a 21 year old, single, Labourer from Korumburra, Victoria.
Private Gower was posted to 5th Reinforcements, 4th Field Artillery Brigade as Gunner on 7th January, 1916.
He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on 4th May, 1916 & joined the Artillery Training School at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt. (no date recorded).
Gunner Gower embarked overseas from Alexandria to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) on Lake Manitoba on 1st August, 1916. He was marched out to Cosham Hutments, Cosham, England on 10th September, 1916.
On 2nd January, 1917 Gunner Gower proceeded overseas to France from R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Larkhill, Wiltshire via Folkestone. He was posted to Australian General Base Depot at Etaples, France on 3rd January, 1917 then transferred to 2nd Division Artillery at Etaples on 24th January, 1917.
He was mustered as Driver on 1st March, 1917.
Driver Gower was written up for an offence in France on 5th June, 1917. On 30th May, 1917 “1. When on active service being on private premises for the purpose of obtaining intoxicant during prohibited hours. 2. Giving a false number & name to M.P.” He was awarded 48 hours Field Punishment 2 & forfeited 2 days pay.
He was transferred to 5th F.A.B. (Field Artillery Brigade) from 2nd D.A.C. (Divisional Artillery Column) on 22nd July, 1917. He was taken on strength of 5th F.A.B. & posted to 105th Battery on 22nd July, 1917.
Driver Gower proceeded on leave to UK on 16th November, 1917 & rejoined from leave on 2nd December, 1917.
On 18th February, 1918 Driver Gower was admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance on 18th February, 1918 then transferred to 6th Australian Field Ambulance on 19th February, 1918 with Scabies. He was discharged to duty on 26th February, 1918 & rejoined his Brigade from Hospital on 27th February, 1918.
He was admitted to 9th Australian Field Ambulance on 7th March, 1918 with Adenitis then transferred to 11th Australian Field Ambulance on 11th March, 1918. He was discharged to duty on 18th March, 1918.
Driver Gower was wounded in action in France on 31st August, 1918. He was admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance on 31st August, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to head. Driver Gower was transferred to 41st Casualty Clearing Station the same day then transferred to Ambulance Train. He was admitted to 12th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 1st September, 1918.
Driver William Harold Gower was invalided to UK on 3rd September, 1918 & was admitted to Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, England on 4th September, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to head.
He was granted furlo from 24th October, 1918 to 7th November, 1918 & was then to report to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire.
Driver William Harold Gower died on 4th November, 1918 at 62 St. John’s Rd, Rotherham, England from Influenza & Pneumonia whilst on leave in England.
The following newspaper article was located in the Service Record file for Driver William Harold Gower. No newspaper name or date was included.
VICTIMS OF THE INFLUENZA SCOURGE
AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER’S DEATH
The Borough Coroner, Mr W. J. Bradford, held inquest on Wednesday respecting the death of two victims of the influenza epidemic. The first case was that of Driver Wm. Henry Gower (23), of the Australian Field Artillery, whose home is stated to be in Tasmania, and who died at 62, St. John’s road, Eastwood, on Monday.
Hedley Shay, 62, St. John’s road, Eastwood View, said deceased was no relation to his, but came with a friend, also an Australian soldier, who was a relation of Mrs Shay. Deceased came from the Lord Derby War Hospital at Warrington. Gower had no relations in England, and persuaded his friend to bring him to Rotherham to spend his leave. Deceased was discharged as convalescent on October 25th, and should have reported in London on November 7th. On Friday, November 1st, deceased complained of illness. He appeared short of breath. He went to bed and remained there, but was not seen by a doctor. He died on Monday. Witness went for a doctor on Sunday afternoon, but the doctor could not then get to see the man. He was given a bottle of medicine, and the doctor went to deceased at 4 o’clock on Monday afternoon, but the man was then dead. Deceased was a cattle dealer in civil life. The other soldier had to be taken to hospital with bronchitis but was now improving.
Dr. Slack, who had examined the body, said the cause of death was pneumonia following influenza.
The Coroner recorded a verdict of “death from influenza followed by pneumonia.”
Driver William Harold Gower was buried in Moorgate Cemetery, Rotherham, Yorkshire, England.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/rotherham---yorkshire...
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was 23. His brother, Private John Donald Gower, also fell.
They were sons of James Henry and Sarah Ann Gower, of Latrobe, Tasmania
Click images to start slideshow.