MCDOWELL, James
| Service Number: | 1012 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 30 November 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Messines Ridge British Cemetery Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Messines, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Augusta War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Narrogin War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1012, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1012, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 30 Nov 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 1012, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1012 awm_unit: 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-11-30 |
James McDowell
James McDowell – Sergeant 1012 – Australian Infantry 32nd Battalion, “C” Company.
James, born 1889 in Crossford, Lanarkshire, son of Robert and Elizabeth, brother of Elizabeth (1891) and Joseph (1896), resided in Nethanfort, Crossford according to the 1901 Scottish Census. He emigrated to Australia and was employed as a platelayer.
Sergeant McDowell had been rejected from the British Army due to the condition of his teeth, James enlisted with the Australian Infantry at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia on 12th June 1915 and was noted as standing 5’7” tall, weighing 154 lbs., having a 38” chest when fully expanded, dark complexion, light brown hair, brown eyes and of Presbyterian faith. He sailed from Alexandria 17th June 1916 arriving in Marseilles, France 23rd June 1916 where he joined the British Expeditionary Force. Appointed to Lance Corporal 28th August 1916 and later to Corporal 19th October 1916 he made full Sergeant in December 1916. He was killed in action 30th November 1917.
James is buried in Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium, Plot 1, Row E, Grave 32 and is commemorated on both Crossford and Lesmahagow war memorials.
Submitted 16 December 2018 by Alistair Allan