Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred McDOWELL

Distinguished Conduct Medal  

'For devotion to duty during the advance from Villers-Bretonneux to Bellicourt from 8 August to 12 September 1918, when he was in charge of parties engaged on mine reconnaissance and forward road repairs. When under fire he showed great gallantry and contempt of danger, setting a fine example to his men.'

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42 Date: 20 May 1920

Alfred McDowell and his family were living in Brown Street, Eaglehawk when he enlisted in July 1915. Unfortunately a year earlier, their family residence at Caldwell Road, Eaglehawk had burnt down. The Bendigo Independent newspaper reported that the Alfred and his wife were in Bendigo at the time and the daughter Eunice was at home ironing and drying clothes in front of the fire. The substantial 5 bedroom wooden property named Eveleigh was burnt to the ground.[1]

The McDowell family was a pioneer family in the district. Alfred’s parents Daniel and Hannah McDowell had first arrived in Sheepshed Gully near Bendigo in 1853 and had later settled in Eaglehawk.[2]

Being a miner Alfred was directed towards the newly formed Mining Corp. The Australian Mining Corps was assembled from men with a background in civilian mining. The intention was to employ this unit, which was at that time about 1,000 strong, with the ANZAC at Gallipoli, but instead it was moved to France in May 1916, where it also appeared as the "Australian Mining Battalion". Soon after arriving in Western Europe in May 1916, the battalion was split into three tunnelling and one repairs company, and the corps headquarters dissolved.

Sapper Alfred McDowell would be assigned to the 2nd Tunnelling Company in Late February, 1916. They sent to Vimy, a town close to the Belgium border. Here, the Company had relieved the British 172nd Tunnelling Company in May 1916 in the Neuville-Saint-Vaast/Vimy area. This sector was known as a German "Labyrinth" stronghold, located between Arras and Vimy and not far from Notre Dame de Lorette. Towards the end of 1917, Alfred would be appointed Lance Corporal.

The mining companies played an important role in the chalk soils of Belgium and Northern France during 1916 and into 1917. As the AIF’s fighting shifted to the Somme region in 1918, new roles for the tunnelling companies were required.

For this period Alfred and the second Tunnelling company were busy supporting Infantry and Artillery companies in all manner of activity building roads and railway lines.

The Bendigo Independent of June 6 1918, would report:-  EAGLEHAWK SOLDIER GASSED.

Mrs. A. McDowell of Caldwell's Road, Eaglehawk, has been notified that her husband. Sapper Alfred McDowelL, has been admitted to an English Hospital suffering from gas poisoning.[3]

Despite being gassed and being sent back to England for treatment, Corporal Alfred McDowell would be back in line by late June 1918 to take part in the ‘Last 100 days’ of vicious fighting however, glorious victories for the Allied forces. 

 No individual photo of Alfred McDowell discovered as yet. 

SERVICE DETAILS:

Regimental No: 642

Place of birth: South Melbourne Victoria

Religion: Wesleyan

Occupation: Miner

Address: Brown Street, Eaglehawk,

Marital status: Married

Age at enlistment: 27

Next of kin: Mother, Mrs Daisy McDowell, Brown Street, Eaglehawk,

Enlistment date: 23 July 1915

Unit name: Mining Corps, 2nd Tunnelling Company

Embarked: From Sydney, HMAT A38 Ulysses on 20 February 1916

Final Rank: Corporal

Fate: Returned to Australia 20 May 1919

Died: April 8, 1964. Age 76

Buried: Eaglehawk Cemetery

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42

Date: 20 May 1920

 Villers-Bretonneux to Bellicourt from 8 August to 12 September 1918

The advance along the Somme front was rapid and spectacular.  By the end of August the Australian Corps was converging on the great elbow in the Somme behind which stood the town of Peronne and the heights of Mont St Quentin, forming the key point of the Hindenburg Line defensive position.[4]

August 8 heralded the ‘Battle of Amiens’ a decisive victory for Allied forces. The speed, decisiveness and effect of the Allied offensive particularly in the sector south of the Somme (Australian and Canadian sector) completely overwhelmed the German defenders. According to official reports, the Allies had captured nearly 50,000 prisoners and 500 guns by 27 August.4

[1] The Bendigo Independent, Fri 30 Jan 1914  Page 6  FIRE IN CALDWELL'S ROAD.

[2] The Bendigo Independent, July 25, 1912. Page 2
[3] Bendigo Independent of June 6 1918  Page 6
[4] Virtual War Memorial Australia Website https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/11