Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William, named after his father and grandfather, was born in the mid-north town of Laura as an early Christmas present, on the 24th December ’18 the oldest son of William Ernest and Mary-Ann Jane Cowin. He was the second of six children including siblings Madge, James Ernest and Audrey.
William, known as Bill, was the third generation of his family to live and help create a strong local community with both his father and grandfather serving on the District Council of Booyoolie. His father, William was also a founding member of the Progress Association and the local Booyoolie Agricultural Society which constantly encouraged and awarded prizes for ‘things that could be grown, reared and made’.
The children all attended the local Stone Hut School, where his sister, Audrey proved to be an academically talented student. Whilst small, Stone Hut was an important town on the route from Clare to Port Augusta (and originally a mail coach change stop for the Cobb and Company stagecoaches). Post school, both Bill and Jim returned to the family farm to work as a labourers.
WWII then intervened. Claiming to be 22 years old and born in 1917 (rather than the correct 1918) Bill was an early enlistee, travelling to Port Pirie to register his intention. He was officially accepted on the 24th July 1940, and given the number SX9577. An ongoing bout of Gastric Influenza prevented him heading overseas with the first wave of the newly formed 2/48th Battalion, instead leaving with the reinforcements in April ’41. Following his arrival in the Middle East, training in the Amiriya Staging camp followed before Bill officially re-joined the 2/48th in October ’41.
Soon after, Bill wrote home, giving a poignant glimpse of the demands made on soldiers. It was published in the Laura Standard in August that year, entitled ‘In a Dugout Underground’. By Digger W. C Cowin. Stone Hut.
‘In a lonely Western desert, Midst the fleas and flies and sand.
There was only four men with me in a dugout underground-
But somehow or other one evening the Captain came around.
And asked, “Who'll volunteer to go boys out in 'No Man's Land?"
Then Harold looked up quickly and said in a husky voice.
"I'll volunteer to go sir, To save my comrades lives."
We waited there that evening, and prayed for that brave heroes’ return,
And God, He sent him back to us In that dugout underground.
And if ever a hero stood in the eyes of other men,
T'was the man who volunteered to go Out in 'No Man's Land.’

The following year Bill gained his qualifications as a Group II Cook but was also penalised for unofficial ‘sight-seeing’ which resulted in unwanted barracks time. His younger brother, Jim had also enlisted on the 28th January, ’42 two months before his 20th birthday. He was allocated the number SX16839 and was also placed in the 2/48th Battalion which arrived in the Middle East. Both brothers eventually returned to Australia via Melbourne at the commencement of February ’43.
Following brief leave both Bill and Jim then headed to train in the tropical conditions of Queensland in preparation for New Guinea where they would face a very different enemy. Bill was promoted to Acting Corporal but by the time he arrived at Milne Bay early August ’43, the same time as Jim, he was promoted to Corporal. Unfortunately, weeks later both brothers succumbed to an ongoing list of ill health, including an upper respiratory tract infection and malaria causing Jim to return to Australia. Bill remained in New Guinea on restricted duties until April ’44 when he returned to Queensland and thence to Adelaide for discharge on the 24th April ’44.
Over Christmas that year William announced his engagement to Lorna May Staker who grew up with Bill in Laura. ‘STAKER—COWIN.—The engagement is announced of Lorna M., elder daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. A. Staker, to W. D., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Cowin. both of Laura.’ Bill had escaped serious injury during his war years, but between announcing his engagement and the wedding, a circular saw intervened. The Laura Standard reported that ‘Mr. Bill Cowin, a popular returned soldier of the 2nd AIF, and the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs- Ern Cowin of Stone Hut, who has been the victim of an unfortunate accident whilst sawing wood, losing several fingers of the right hand, has left the Laura Hospital, where he was under the care of the Medical Officer, Dr. T. V. Tassie.’
Despite the injury, Lorna and Bill married in the local Methodist Church in an evening service on June 23rd. They were to have four sons and a daughter, David Frederick, Gloria May, William Glenn, Jeffrey William and Graham John.
65-year-old Lorna pre-deceased Bill and died in July ’89. William lived to be 87 and died on the 26th February 2005. Both now rest together in the Laura Cemetery, ‘Loved and remembered by the grandchildren’.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.