S13697
BOWELS, George Andrew
| Service Numbers: | 3618, 3619 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Circumstances of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: LO, Road: 1AS, Site No: 9 |
| Memorials: | Payneham District Council Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1917: | Involvement Private, 3618, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 1917: | Embarked Private, 3618, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 3619, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3618, 50th Infantry Battalion |
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George Andrew Bowels, the son of Fredrick Bowels and Emma Bowels, was born on 21st of July 1898. When George enlisted on August 21st 1916 at 18 years of age, he was a single clerk who lived on Wellington Road Payneham, SA. George joined the war efforts late and was assigned to the 50th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement. The 50th Battalion was created in Egypt on the 26th of February 1916. The 50th Battalion was trained in military camps in Egypt ready to be shipped to the Western Front.
George was a short adolescent for the time being only 5.6 feet when the average height was 5.8 feet. George weighing only around 55kg and having been aged 18 at the time meant he must have been very small and skinny. George had a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.
George embarked from Australia in Melbourne, VIC on the HMAT A32 Thermistocles on the August 4th 1917 almost 1 year after he originally enlisted. George's rank in his Battalion was Private, surprisingly as he already had 4 years of experience in the military before WW1. George acted as a ground infantry troop throughout his entire military service participation in WW1.
Private George Andrew Bowels was wounded on the 8th June 1918 sustaining a gunshot to the left hip. George was not very seriously wounded and recovered quite quickly in hospital. The date George was wounded doesn’t match up with any major events in WW1, meaning he could have been wounded in the front line trench warfare. He was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance. George was then transferred to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital, Rednal on the 13th of June 1918. A little over a month George was transferred again to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford on the 24th of July 1918. 5 days after the second transfer, George was discharged to the Command Depot, Hurdcott, Salisbury Plains for recovery.
George achieved two medals throughout his duration in the war. George showed determination and bravery throughout the war and received the Victory Medal and a British War Medal.
George returned home to Australia on the 15 June 1919 and died of natural causes in 1938 which is a very early age for death as the average death age was approximately 50-55 years old. (Specific date of death not provided).
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