COWAN, John Lancelot
| Service Number: | 2808 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 February 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Murray Bridge, South Australia, 14 August 1893 |
| Home Town: | Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Prince Alfred College |
| Occupation: | Farm Manager |
| Died: | Natural causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 15 May 1971, aged 77 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (1), Murray Bridge Roll of Honour WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2808, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2808, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Malwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 27 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2808, 9th Light Horse Regiment, RMS Malwa, Adelaide | |
| 10 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2808, 9th Light Horse Regiment | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 2808, 9th Light Horse Regiment |
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Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
John Lancelot Cowan was born in Murray Bridge, South Australia, on the 14th of August 1894. John’s father was Sir John Stirling Cowan who served in the South Australian parliament from 1910-1944. John Lancelot Cowan was educated at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide. Before the war, he worked as a farmer on his family's land near Murray Bridge
Cowan enlisted 16 February 1916 at the age of 22. His mother Elizabeth was his nominated next of kin. Cowan embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board the RMS Malwa on 27 July 1916.
Whilst on the ship heading to Egypt, Cowan fell ill with diarrhoea and was hospitalised in Egypt 25 August 1916. He was then discharged to isolation camp, 2 September 1916. Once he covered he rejoined his unit and was taken on strength with the 3rd Light Horse 23rd September 1916. He served in the Middle East until the end of the war. He was appointed as a Lance Corporal 9 August 1918 and then as a Corporal Vice in January 1919 which was a temporary until 17 March when he reverted to Lance Corporal and prepared to march out for embarkation.
Cowan embarked from Suez on the ship HT "City Of Poona” 7th of April 1919. He arrived in Adelaide on the 12th of May, 1919 and was discharged 10 July 1919. John married on the 4th of December 1920 to Bobbie Yates at Pirie Street Methodist Church.
In 1927, Cowan joined the District Council of Mobilong. Then, in 1932, Cowan became the chairman of the District Council of Mobilong. On July 12, 1934, John became a committee member on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. Cowan renewed his committee membership on January 12, 1938, for the same Public Works committee. On January 13, 1943, Cowan renewed his membership until May 31, 1944. After the death of Mr. Norman Brookman in 1949, the seat in the Parliament of South Australia opened up. On May 26, 1949, Cowan was elected to serve in the Parliament of South Australia alongside three others. Cowan served in the LCL (modern-day Liberal party) in the Legislative Council. After serving in Parliament for 32 years, Cowan retired from Parliament.
Cowan had 2 sons and 2 daughters with his wife. Cowan passed away on the 19th of May 1971 at the old age of 77 due to natural causes. John Lancelot Cowan’s grave is found at Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia.
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