Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

VX441 Corporal Bernard Emmet “Barney” Cowcher born 7 August 1910 was one of nine children born to William Thomas and Gertrude Emma Cowcher. In civilian life Barney had worked as a bookmaker, like his father. He also worked as a timber cutter in Alexandra and on a citrus orchard belonging to “Muff” Scott of Cobram. He married Mary Alberta Radford in 1931. He was known as Barney Cowcher around Cobram and was a very good footballer. The Cobram Courier in 1936 reported that “Barney Cowcher was in the thick of the play, all day. Last year, this cheery and popular player was dubbed "the untiring Cowcher." Barney certainly earned that title by reason of his play, and always gives of his best.”

Barney enlisted in the Australian Army at Caulfield on 23 October 1939 and was allotted to the 6th Division Cavalry Regiment. He was then 29 years of age and married with three children, all of whom were under the age of seven. The 6th Division Cavalry Regiment was formed in November 1939 and, just two months later, was sent overseas to the Middle East in January 1940. Arriving in Egypt, the Regiment immediately went to Palestine, where it joined the rest of the 6th Division and trained using machine-gun carriers and, from October, six old Vickers light tanks.

The Regiment became the first unit of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) to go into action when one of its squadrons fought a sharp action against the Italians holding forts on 11 and 12 December 1940. By 21 December British forces had captured Sidi Barrani and the desert was now open for the 6th Division's advance along the Libyan coast.

On 3 January 1941 the Division attacked and captured the Italian fort of Bardia. In April the unit moved to Helwan, where it was equipped with Vickers light tanks and machine-gun carriers, and operated with British troops in capturing Sollum. Towards the end of May the Regiment moved to Palestine, where it came under the command of the 7th Division for the imminent invasion of Syria.

Barney wrote home from Palestine, in a letter published in the Cobram Courier during 1941, ‘Well old chap, I have had a few games of football over here; we looked a queer lot in long and short pants, with our heavy boots on, but still it was a game and we also made a record by playing the first game of Australian rules football in Palestine since the last war. It was the same in Egypt, only I had the honour to captain one side; that’s doing it, Hey!’

A letter received from Cpl. B. E. Cowcher, in Palestine was printed in a local newspaper - 'No rain for just on six months, and don't expect any for another two or three months, but it is the usual thing for this country. The only green in the land is the orange groves and water melon patches. Fruit is not too plentiful, but we can still get water melons and grapes. The Arabs are good-hearted in lots of ways, and if you happen to pull up at a village the headman often invites you to a cup of coffee. I don't go much on it; it is very strong and sweet. The crops are all gathered by hand, and it is marvelous the way they get over the thousands of acres. When cut it is carted in by camels and donkeys. They still do their threshing the same way it was done hundreds of years ago'.

The Regiment experienced its heaviest fighting during the Syrian campaign, which began on 7 June 1941.

Barney Cowcher died in the Syrian Campaign near Merdjayoun when Lieutenant Hurrey's tank ran over a Vichy French mine. The tank was blown up on the mine and Hurrey, commander of the vehicle, was the only survivor of the crew. Family accounts say Hurrey was literally blown out of the tank hatch from his standing position which presumably saved his life. Barney Cowcher is listed on the Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour as being killed in action on 24 June 1941, aged 30.

He was buried in a shallow grave in the battlefield and was later interred in the Damascus War Cemetery.

His C.O. at the time, who went on to be Major General Sir Denzil Macarthur-Onslow DSO, wrote to Barney’s wife soon after his death, “On behalf of all ranks of the regiment may I convey to you our very sincere and deepest sympathy in the loss of your gallant husband. Corporal Cowcher was one of our original members, and throughout more than eight months of active and continuous operations against the Italians, Germans, and French proved himself to be an NCO of outstanding ability, with a flair for leadership, and a fund of courage, coolness, and cheerfulness under most dangerous and trying conditions. He was in fact at all times an inspiration and example to his men….”

Barney’s regimental number is VX441, a very low number indicating he was among the very first soldiers to enlist into the AIF during WW2. Barney’s brother VX4074 Corporal Leslie Joseph Cowcher served with the 2/8th Battalion AIF. Another brother VX23569 William Clive Cowcher also served with the 2/22nd Battalion.

Barney left a wife, Mary, and three children Norma, and twins Hal and Gloria, all under 10 years of age, who were living in Alexandra, Victoria, at the time.