MCGOWN, Walter Carrington
| Service Number: | 3855 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 15th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2 February 1897 |
| Home Town: | Surry Hills, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Surry Hills Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 26 September 1917, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3855, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3855, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3855, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Medic, Sydney | |
| 18 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sapper, 15th Field Company Engineers | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 3855, 15th Field Company Engineers, Polygon Wood |
Help us honour Walter Carrington McGown's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Walter was the son of John and Mary McGown, of Surry Hills, New South Wales. The mother, Mary, passed away in Sydney on 30 November 1915, and their father, John McGown, died during January 1920.
His brother, 3165 Pte. Alfred George McGown 3rd Battalion AIF, was killed in action near Flers, France, on 5 November 1916, aged 22.
Another older brother, 3967 Pte. John McGowan 19th Battalion AIF, was severely wounded in October 1916. He was returned to Australia with a gunshot wound to the leg during September 1917.
A nephew of the three McGown brothers, also of Surry Hills, 3899 Pte. Alfred Robinson 4th Battalion AIF, was also killed in action at Pozieres.
Walter enlisted at 18 years of age during August 1915, and his mother passed away two months later, before he was sent overseas.
Walter served with the 15th Field Company Engineers from early 1916 and according to his service file he was killed by concussion caused by a high explosive shell near Polygon Wood in Belgium.
Walter’s eldest brother, William McGown, received his medals and entitlements, and filled out Walter’s roll of honour form after the war. He stated “He walked 30 miles to find his brother grave and erected a cross on his brother’s grave.”
The two McGown brothers who lost their lives during WW1 have memorial plaques on the graves of their parents in Waverly Cemetery in Sydney. Walter’s reads, “A token of loving remembrance of Spr. Walter Carrington McGown 15 Field Coy. Aust. Engineers. Killed in action Polygon Wood 26th Sept. 1917. Aged 19 years. “Only a boy the pride of us all, for his country he gave his life, his all. Our hero at rest.”
The 15th Field Company Engineers lost 15 men killed on 26 September 1917.
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