COWAN, Robert
| Service Number: | 303 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 September 1914, Enlisted at Clunes, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Clunes, Victoria, Australia, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Clunes, Hepburn, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Clunes State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Wounds, 17th General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, 13 May 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery Row A, Grave 143 Rev. A.V.C. Hordern officiated, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Clunes War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 303, 4th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Clunes, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 303, 14th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 303, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 303, 14th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 2 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 303, 14th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Multiple GSW to forearm, back and chest sustained at Courtney's Post. Evacuated to Egypt where he later died of wounds on 13 May 1915. |
Help us honour Robert Cowan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Thomas Cowan and Mary Ann Cowan nee McGill of Albert Street, Clunes, Victoria. Brother of Ethel May Cowan, Thomas Cowan, Bertie Cowan, Lily Cowan and William Cowan
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Robert Wight
Robert Cowan, aged 25, enlisted in the AIF in Clunes on 10 September 1914. He embarked overseas on 22 December 1914 and arrived in Egypt about five weeks later.
After several months training, he departed Egypt on 12 April 1915 and landed at Gallipoli on the afternoon of 25 April 1915.
The 14th Battalion eventually took up defensive positions at Courtney’s Post and it was here on 2 May 1915 that Pte Cowan sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his forearm, back and chest.
He was evacuated to Egypt via HMHS Galeka the next day and admitted to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria, where he subsequently died of his wounds on 13 May 1915.
He was buried at Chatby Military & War Memorial Cemetery at Alexandria later the same day.
Source: Extract from "Clunes War Memorial WW1" by Robert Wight, June 2022.
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