Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William was born on the 5th April 1915 to Joseph and Jane Bowd of Mount Gambier, an area known for its blue lake in the dormant volcano on the limestone coast.
William, frequently known as Rex, was the third generation of the Bowd family to live at Mount Gambier as his grandfather, also called Joseph, had left Huntingdonshire, England to sail for Australia as a 21-year-old. Initially a shoemaker in the Riverton area, he then became interested in farming at Saddleworth before travelling to Mil Lel at Mount Gambier to purchase land. Whilst he was clearing this, he took up shearing and became a very successful horse breeder, being renown for the success of his pony stallion widely known as "Bowd's Taffy". Rex’s father was one of eight children, six sons and two daughters.
Rex’s uncle (and the third son), Stephen, a successful jockey, was 42 when he enlisted to serve in WWI in the 43rd Battalion. A year after arriving in France, he received a gunshot wound to his arm and was hospitalised for almost two months before he re-joined his unit. Just two months later, then a Lance Corporal, Stephen was killed in action on the 9th June ’17 and was buried in France in what was then called Mud Corner British Cemetery. Rex had just turned two, with Stephen continuing to be revered by the family.
Rex, his siblings and cousins attended the local Glenburnie school at a time when Arbor Day was actively celebrated. Pine trees were planted along the school fence adjoining the Dartmoor road, followed by presentations and the much-anticipated fruit, lollies, and almonds then being distributed to the children. A sports program followed which included a quaint but popular rooster race, where Rex chased, ran down and caught in ’21. Schools also celebrated Visiting Day which was followed by a half holiday. The Glenburnie racecourse then became the venue for sports and delicacies such as a case of oranges and a large supply of sweets, donated by the committee for the students. As a 12-year-old, Rex won the 100-yard flat race and hurdles. The following week the Presbyterian Church held its Sunday School annual picnic in a local farmer’s paddock. Besides swings and special prizes, much anticipated fruit and lollies were followed by races, with Rex successful in the three legged and obstacle races. Rex’s father, Joseph was active on the school committee, being president for several years including being on the General Committee for the Back to Glenburnie celebrations in ‘35. He was instrumental in helping coordinate the annual picnic and a popular dance to raise funds for the school. The students were all encouraged to enter the Mount Gambier Show with Rex being successful in growing the best carnation and vegetables.
Joseph was also an active supporter and President of the Glenburnie Football Club for whom Rex and his brother played. Rex also turned his skills to bike racing, including a race from Mount Gambier to Port Macdonnell. His parents, living at Glenburnie, died within three years of each other, 57-year-old Jane on the 6th October ’34 and 64-year-old Joseph on the 21st June ’37.
Rex married Henri Iona Mabel Greta (usually called Omni) Letts, a sister of one of his co-workers John Letts, from the Dartmoor sawmill. The young couple had two sons, Douglas Rex called ‘Jimmy’ and Colin Joseph.
With the outbreak of WWII immense pressure was put on young people to enlist with quite strident efforts to shame those who were reticent. One such article, issued by the Mount Gambier Recruiting Committee, appeared in the local Border Watch newspaper in June ’41, proclaiming that ‘Very soon the great battle for the Mediterranean and Suez will be at its height. Are we going to wait until the enemy is at our back door before we wake up? Then it will be too late. last month over 6000 English women and children were killed, in air raids, more than the number, of British killed in Greece. That can happen here, but still numbers of young men only wonder how can I get out of this war without inconvenience?
‘A few of the sporting bodies were represented at the recent local recruiting rally-others could not attend because they would be late starting their sport. They are late starting to protect the right to play their sport, their freedom and their homes. When there is a man short in a sporting team, is the call for the vacancy to be filled in vain? No! There is always a man waiting to fill the gap. But when there are gaps in the ranks of our splendid boys they are not filled quickly enough, neither are they sufficiently supported by new units so urgently required. This is no time to pander to anybody's feelings-it is a total war, everyone has to pull his weight in the unit most suited for his age and capabilities.’
The following week another article appeared, concluding with the prophetic statement about those already serving. ‘They have acquitted themselves with more than distinction, wherever they have been engaged, and they have taught the world to expect much more of them. Give them sufficient reinforcements and they will eventually prove one of the biggest stumbling blocks in Hitler's path. South Australia is lagging behind in the matter of recruiting and their quota for June is 850 men, but even this is not enough. If we cannot send assistance now we cannot win.’
A list of the fourteen most recent recruits, including William Rex Bowd from Dartmoor, followed. A final exhortation to ‘ENLIST NOW!’ concluded the article. It is possible that Rex also took inspiration from the service and sacrifice his uncle Stephen gave in WWI.
John Letts and 26-year-old Rex, co-workers at the Dartmoor saw mill, heeded the call and enlisted together, being allocated consecutive numbers, Rex as SX13191 and John SX13192. Rex was placed in the 2/48th Reinforcement Battalion and John in the 2/10th (John survived the war and was discharged in June ’44.)
Back home on pre-embarkation leave, a farewell was organised in August at Dartmoor for Rex and John. Dancing and speeches were responded to by the young men who also received gifts from the Friendship Club and the Comforts Fund, including a valet safety razor. Rex then headed for the Middle East arriving in Dimra in February ’42. He soon undertook a Transport Driver course with his efforts at driving and mechanical knowledge both being described as ‘fair’ but requiring further practice.
In less than a year of service, the November ’42 issue of the Chronicle announced that Rex was on the dangerously wounded list. He was named with many others from his battalion. Similarly, the Border Watch shared that ‘Pte W. R. Bowd Dangerously ill according to advice received by his wife from the military authorities, Private W. R. Bowd, of Mount Gambier; has been wounded in action while serving with the A.I.F. in the Middle East. On October 28 he was placed on the dangerously ill list. Pte. Bowd is 26 years old and joined the army in June of last year. He had been in the Middle East since the following September. Before he enlisted he was working as a sawyer at Dartmoor. His wife and two small sons are living at Engelbreeht Avenue.’
The following month news of his death was confirmed. The Chronicle in December ’42 also listed those wounded in action at a similar time to Rex. In his list were SX1719 Sgt. Donald A. L. Harlem, 2/10th Adelaide; SX12880 Pte. Albert J. Matthews, 2/48th Seaton Park; SX13029 Pte. H B. Wall 2/48th Peebinga. (Albert Matthews later died in New Guinea, aged 39 on the 6th November ’43).
The Portland Guardian later announced that ‘Word has been received by his wife that Pte. W. R. Bowd, who was wounded in action with the A.I.F. in the Middle East and placed on the dangerously ill list, died on November 5th. Pte. Bowd, who was 26 years old, joined the Army in June of last year and had been in the Middle East ever since the following September. Before enlisting he was working as a sawyer at a Dartmoor mill and was a brother of Mr. J. Bowd, Dartmoor. Mrs Bowd was formerly Miss Letts of Hamilton, and there are also two small sons, Jimmy and Colin.’
Rex’s wounding in action involved him sustaining a compound fracture to his skull, at the end of October in the offensive to take Trig 29. Conditions for those in the 2/48th were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Fighting began on the night of the 23rd October. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan describes how ‘The darkness was rent by flashes from the mouths of over eight hundred guns. The night exploded as no night before had ever done. The desert burst into flame and shattering sound that shook the earth with its fury. Then came the dreadful whispering of thousands of shells rushing by overhead, the shock of explosions as they smashed into the enemy’s guns, men, tanks and communications. The bombers joined in, raining their bombs on the German gunlines. The tranquil stars seemed to quake in their heaven and to recede in horror at such destruction as had never before been witnessed in this land as old as time itself, or perhaps in any land. The smell of cordite drifted chokingly through the air, then dust billowed up and blotted out the flashing guns.’ He later reports that ‘D Company ran up against strong opposition soon after they started’ and that casualties were experienced. Definitive news slowly drifted back about that horrific battle where the 2/48th lost 199 men killed or wounded of their 292 involved in that night’s conflict – over 68 percent of their men. Glenn continued, describing the conditions. “At zero hour, 1 a.m. 31st October, the artillery opened up with a receding barrage – one that creeps back on itself. The attack was towards the guns themselves, the enemy being between the safety margin of about six hundred yards, a fact that, added to the earlier delay over the start-line, caused much of the value of the barrage to be lost. Added to this, the troops came under heavy shell fire as they were forming up and suffered casualties before they commenced their attack. The men grew tense under the strain of waiting, and a sigh of relief greeted the order to move off. As soon as the main road was reached the two leading companies came under murderous fire, and from then until they reached their objective, 2,250 yards from the start line, the whole advance was fought in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.“
Aged 26 Rex died in the 15th (Scottish) General Hospital on the 5th November ’42, officially at 12:45 hours, of a fractured skull. He was initially buried In the Military Cemetery at Heliopolis. He rests now with other young men, all but one in their 20’s who had also died of their wounds and were later re-interred in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Egypt. Rex is in Plot 2 Row E Grave 32. His family chose the inscription ‘His Duty Nobly Done’ for his headstone.
His family continued to remember him in the ensuing years.
Border Watch Thursday 12 November 1942, DEATHS BOWD.—On 5th November, 1942, Pte. William Rex, dearly beloved husband of Onie, and father of Jimmie and Colin. Aged 26 years. (Died of wounds in Egypt).
Border Watch Thursday 4 November 1943, BOWD, PTE. W.-In loving memory of my dear husband, who died of wounds at El Alamein, 5th November, 1942. Gone, but not forgotten. -Remembered by his wife, Onie, Jimmy, and Colin. BOWD.-In memory of Pte. Rex, who died of wounds, Egypt, November 5, 1942. Duty nobly done. Inserted by Jean and Les. BOWD, PTE, W. R. In memory of our dear brother, Rex, 2/48th Battalion, A.I.F., died of wounds in Egypt, on November 5, 1942. Whatever else we fail to do, We never fail, dear brother, to think of you -Inserted by his loving sister and brother-in-law. BOWD. In fondest memory of Pte. Rex, died of wounds, Egypt, November 5, 1942. Some day we'll understand. Inserted by his sister-in-law, Phyllis.
Border Watch Thursday 2 November 1944, BOWD, W. R.-In loving memory of our dear husband and father, died of wounds, Egypt, November 5, 1942. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning We will remember. Remembered by his loving wife and family. BOWD-In loving memory of Pte. W. R. Bowd, died of wounds at El Alamein, November 5, 1942. Ever remembered. Inserted by his loving sister and brother-in-law. BOWD.-In memory of our brother-in-law Rex, died of wounds, Egypt, November 5, 1942. Resting in a hero's grave, With Australia's brave. -Remembered by Jean and Les.
With peace declared, the local community instigated a Glenburnie Memorial Fund in ‘46 with the aim of providing two Orthopaedic beds for the Mount Gambier Hospital as a memorial to the four Glenburnie boys who paid the supreme sacrifice. They were: Pte. William R. Bowd, 24 year old Pte. Ken Kilsby SX3783 of the 2/27th, 28 year old Pte. Ross Steele SX7776 in Rex’s 2/48th Battalion and 22 year old F/Sgt. Angus R. Telford.
By March ’53 Rex’s precious medals, the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal were all posted to his family.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.