S6454
DOWDY, Frank Leslie
| Service Number: | 2066 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 July 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 40th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rose Park, South Australia, Australia, 26 December 1898 |
| Home Town: | Rose Park, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Circumstances of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board, Rose Park Congregational Church Great War Roll of Honour, Tusmore Burnside District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 2066, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2066, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2066, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide | |
| 12 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 40th Infantry Battalion, Transferred from 43rd battalion to the 40th battalion. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Driver, 2066, 40th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2066, 40th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Aloysius College
Frank Leslie Dowdy was born in Rose Park, South Australia on the 26th of Dec, 1898. He was raised by his mother Mrs Eliza Dowdy in their house on Watson Avenue. Before enlisting into the AIF, he had a job as a clerk. He is said to be around 5 foot 4 tall, have grey eyes and brown hair. His religion denomination is congressional.
On July 4th 1916, Frank Leslie Dowdy was enlisted into the AIF at age 17, although he said he was 18. He served in the 3rd reinforcements of the 43rd battalion.
Over Dowdy’s time in the war, he served as both a private and a driver. A private is the general rank of newly enrolled soldiers. A driver, an equivalent ranking from a private, would drive horses carrying weapons and artillery.
August 28th, 1916, was the date in which Dowdy embarked from Adelaide. During the journey, some troubles arose. Dowdy was admitted into the ship’s hospital where he stayed for a total of 17 days meaning he was discharged on September 17th. October 11th, they disembarked the ship in Plymouth. It can be assumed that during this time he was training to go on the field.
Although Dowdy was enlisted into the 43rd battalion that shortly changed as he joined the 40th battalion on the 12th of November, 1916. The 40th battalion was originally the only all-Tasmanian group of soldiers until the 3rd reinforcement, which Dowdy was a part of. They marched into Durrington, a small village in England. They proceeded to Folkestone where they travelled overseas via the Princess Victoria and on foot to arrive in Etaples, France on the 21st of December. Dowdy joined his unit on the field 19th of January. His service on the field continued throughout the year until the 26th of July where he went on a 20 day leave. He returned to field on the 14th of August.
November 6th, Dowdy fell sick with influenza in Abbeville, a commune in France. He was admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital. After a recovery of 9 days he is back on the field with his battalion.
Later on in his career, he was appointed driver for his battalion on 17th of February, 1918. (The driver’s role in the military was to drive the horses which carried the guns and artillery) His first duty as a driver was to leave to England on 19th of March. He re-joined the 40th battalion to leave the UK on April 4th. Dowdy reverts to a Private and, with his unit, moves out of England and into France on the 9th of May.
Dowdy went to Wiltshire 4th of July where he retired and planned his return to Australia. He disembarked on the 16th of August 1919. He safely returned to Australia and was discharged from his duties on 2nd of October.
Frank Leslie Dowdy showed real courage and an admirable display of the true ANZAC spirit. Entering the war at such a young age showed his devotion to his country. He faced illness and minor setbacks but was always able to come back and push on. Overall, he spent a total of 3 years defending his country.
Unfortunately, there are no available sources on Frank Dowdy’s possible wives or children. There is however information on his burial grounds. His body rest in Centennial Park Cemetery found in South Australia. This cemetery is home to 195 WW1 soldier who have past and now rest in peace.