Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas William Bowers was a WWI veteran who sustained a series of quite severe wounds during his time on the Western Front. He was named after his father, Thomas, with his mother being Emily Bailey and was born in the mid-north town of Blyth where he worked as a draper’s assistant. He enlisted at Morphettville on the 2nd September 1914, being placed in the 10th Infantry Division as number 991. By the 20th October, he was on his way to serve overseas. Thomas (known as Tom) experienced several bouts of hospitalization throughout his service. At the start of May ’15 he was hospitalized at Heliopolis with a bullet wound to his left wrist and hand, remaining in care for just over three weeks. It took until the start of November before the Register made a brief announcement that ‘Cpl. T. W. BOWERS, 10th Battalion (Balaklava). ill, in 2nd Auxiliary Convalescent Depot, Heliopolis; previously reported wounded.’
Tom was soon promoted to Lance Corporal on the 21st August ’15 then by March 1916 was promoted to Corporal, and almost immediately, to Sergeant whilst in Marseilles. Within months he was wounded on the 6th August ‘16 with gunshot wounds to his back and right leg, causing him to be taken to Rouen Hospital the following day. From there he was sent to England to recover. . By March ’17 Tom was posted to the General Infantry Reinforcements where he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. Early in September he returned to France and was again promoted ‘In the Field’ as Lieutenant. Just two months later, he was wounded for the third time sustaining severe gunshot wounds to his chest and was taken to England. Again, this was not reported until the end of October in the local Wooroora Producer which reported that ‘Mr T. Bowers, of Balaklava, has been notified that his son, Sergeant T. W. Bowers, has been wounded.’ At the end of that year, Tom was on command at Balliel College in Oxford as a super-numerary to the 10th Battalion.
This time, there was no return to the trenches and he was invalided on the 20th September, spending time in the London General Hospital. Back home, a young woman called Elma Phillippa South, from Wasleys who had previously worked in the Ridley Arms Hotel, continued to take particular interest in Jack. On hearing this latest news, Elma wrote, attempting to find out more detail about Tom’s condition. Unfortunately, communication was quite slow and detail, of necessity was minimal. She was, however, told of Tom’s hospital, his date of admission, plus a general address for writing.
During the fighting, it was often extremely difficult to account for every man, as some were killed, wounded, taken prisoner or lost. This inevitably meant that some men were incorrectly reported as missing, believed dead. Every effort was made to check with fellow soldiers in the battalion for an eyewitness account, but in the chaos, mud, fighting and self-preservation, even these accounts could be contradictory. However, they were essential for those back home to know about the fate of their family member. Tom was cited as one of the witnesses to the fate or disappearance of Lieutenant Magnus Saunders in his 10th Battalion. Having witnessed the bravery of the soldier, Tom formally wrote that Saunders ‘never left his battalion’ despite initial, incorrect reports to this effect. Hearing of these, Magnus had cabled his family to assure then that he was all right. Tom’s report stated that “Saunders is now wearing a Military Cross for what he did on Sept 20th. This was in reference to the frenetic fighting at Polygon Wood to take a mound named the ‘Butte’. (Tom’s infantry advanced behind a heavy artillery barrage, the noise of which was compared to a roaring bushfire. They secured most of their objectives, and despite the Germans launching several counter-attacks, these were thwarted by the heavy defensive artillery barrages which protected the infantry. That battle alone cost 5,770 Australian casualties.)
Inevitably, Tom’s involvement in the war was over and he was extremely fortunate to return to Australia, via Melbourne on the 10th January ’18 and was discharged as Lieutenant on the 18th February in Adelaide. The Cheer Up Society of Balaklava coordinated a huge ‘Welcome Home’ event for Tom in the local Institute, described in the Wooroora Producer as ‘the most distinguished soldier who had returned to Balaklava. Although Lieut. Bowers had not enlisted from Balaklava they felt that they had some claim on him because it was in Balaklava that his parents lived.’ Tom’s service was summarised as ‘He enlisted as a private and went to Gallipoli, and within twelve months was made a lieutenant. He had been wounded three times. The most recent wounding was in September last, when he was shot through the lungs. The locals were pleased to know that he was recovering from the injury and hoped that in the near future he would be restored to health.’ Tom was further eulogised ‘Lieutenant Bowers had proved himself the right stamp of man, for early in the Nation's distress he heard the call, and for upwards of three years had done strenuous work as a soldier, going through much hardship and had risked his life. It was through such men as Lieutenant Bowers that Australia had made her name in the great war and had had helped to make history for Australia- Their hope was that Lieutenant Bowers would recover his full measure of health. His experience as a soldier would assist him in civil life to help in the building of the Empire strong and virile—an Empire that would be able to stand against the storms and adversities that it may have to contend with, He felt that he was expressing the sentiments of Balaklava when he said that they were very pleased to see Lieutenant Bowers home again.’
In his response, Tom thanked all the friends for their kindness and was pleased to be back. He added that “The fact that he was not born in Balaklava and had not enlisted from there, made the reception they had given him the more genuine and kindly. He had, however, been associated with Balaklava as a barracker for the Port Wakefield footballers.” Tom added that he had attended the gathering against doctor’s orders, and although speakers had referred to him as a brave man, he did not consider himself in that manner. Tom explained that “he did not regard it as bravery to fight for his country—he was only fighting for the protection of his loved ones, his country, and himself. There were thousands of others doing the same thing. It was admitted that the Australian soldier was the gamest thing God had ever made, and it was worth I5 years of a man's life to see how game they died in France.” He thanked the friends most sincerely for their kind welcome to him. Following the speeches, songs, recitations, supper and a dance followed.
A second welcome home followed in the St Alban’s Hall at Port Wakefield where, pre-war, Tom had lived. Again, the Cheer Ups organized the evening and the stunning decorations. A hearty welcome was extended to ‘the gallant officer, who left here as a private and won his promotion on the field of battle.’ Rising to respond, Tom received a standing ovation.
By March that year, Lieutenant Tom was appointed as Organising Secretary of the State Recruiting Committee, Adelaide, with the rank of Captain by the Director General of Recruiting. The previous office holder had resigned to enable a returned soldier to fill the position. Tom’s service was summarised in the Wooroora Producer as ‘Captain Bowers has had three and a quarter years' active service in the A.I F. He embarked as a private in the original 10th Battalion and obtained his commission as Lieutenant when in the field. He has been wounded three times, the last occasion being at Polygon Wood on the 30th September, 1917. Captain Bowers returned to Australia early this year.’
The culmination of injuries meant that Tom was declared to have a half incapacity for 6 months and the recommendation that he be granted a temporary Honorary Rank and a pension of £2 a fortnight, which was later doubled. He later needed copy of his discharge papers to assist him gain employment, but in the meantime he and Elma married in the Semaphore Congregational Church on the 21st September and lived at Hannay Street in Largs Bay. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Two years after his father’s discharge, Jack South Bowers was born in Nurse Lindstrom’s Nursing Home at the coastal town of Semaphore on the 6th January 1920. His middle name, ‘South’ was in honour of his mother’s family.
Tom continued to serve his community and returned soldiers. In July ’20 he was made a Justice of the Peace in Largs Bay and at Kapunda was made Complaints Officer for the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League. As honorary Captain of the Adelaide head office of the Returned Servicemen’s League, he was also part of a strong delegation to meet with the Minister of Irrigation regarding the previous preference for returned soldiers as workers. The A.W.U. at the time were pressing for their own members to be given preference. The deputation also pressed for work done on the Murray River blocks to be done as soon and as cheaply as possible as thesoldiers would have to repay the cost of making the blocks workable. An argument was made that under the old piece work scheme with payments of 7/- a day was more efficient than the current 12/- a day. However, the soldiers were assured that the policy of preference to returned soldiers would continue.
With the outbreak of WWII, Tom’s son Jack immediately followed his father’s example and enlisted on the 21st June 1940 as SX7591 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Despite his papers being neatly written, clearly stating his full name as Jack South BOWERS it was mis-read, with the ‘t’ in his middle name being interpreted as a ‘c’ and consequently all of Jack’s subsequent records referred to him with the unlikely and unusual name of Jack ‘Souch’.
Jack’s leadership qualities emulated those of his father’s. He received his first promotion to Lance Corporal in July ‘42, then within five months was Acting Corporal and early in March the following year, the 22-year-old was a Corporal. Jack and his fellow Rats of Tobruk faced fierce fighting in the Middle East and were unable to return home until February ’43. Jack was unable to see his father again.
54-year-old Jack died in August ’42 with the Advertiser carrying the announcement. ‘BOWERS.—On August 11 (suddenly). Thomas William, dearly beloved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Bowers, of Balaklava. aged 54 years. BOWERS.-On August 11 at Adelaide. Thomas William dearly beloved husband of Elma Bowers of 8 Montrose avenue, Norwood. and loving father of Jack (A.I.F., abroad), aged 54 years.’ As a highly respected WWI soldier, Thomas was buried in the A.I.F. Cemetery at West Terrace where a military headstone carried the tribute ‘His Duty Nobly Done’.
Jack was severely wounded in the frenetic action that ensued over October and November, ’42. His injuries were to change his life, much as Tom’s had been affected in France. Jack sustained severe shot wounds to his back causing spinal injuries, and prolonged hospitalization under both Australian, then British specialist care. He was wounded during the fierce fighting which began at the end of October ’42 and into November.
Tom was remembered by his extended family in ’44 in the Advertiser, Friday 11 August 1944, BOWERS.—in loving memory of Tom, who passed away August 11. 1942. You live with us in memory, not just today but always will.—Ever remembered by mother, dad and boys. BOWERS, Capt. T. W.—Fond memories brother Tom, who died August 11, 1942. Remembrance is a golden chain that links us till we meet again.—Remembered always by Ivy. Tom, kiddies BOWERS.—In memory of Tom who passed away August 11, 1942. Loving memories of my dear brother will always live in my heart.—lnserted by sister Rose and niece Dorothy.
Tom’s wife, Elma, died on the 24th December ’52, with the Advertiser carrying the notice the following day. “BOWERS. — On December 24. Elma Phlllippa. dearly loved wife of the late Thomas Bowers, loving mother of Jack and sister of Myrtle. Hedley and Frank. Aged 66 years. At rest.” She was also buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
In May ’67 Jack posthumously applied for Tom’s Anzac Medal, believing that Thomas was entitled to this. Just two years later, Jack died on the 18th June ’69. A plaque honouring his service is in the Centennial Park Tranquility Wall
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.