Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Text supplied by Chas Schaedel and the South Australian Aviation Museum History Group

Born on 20 June at Glenelg in SA before his parents resided at Wimbeldon and Rottingdean in England.  David Fowler was educated at Harrow and at Trinity College Cambridge before enlisting in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Commissioned 2nd Lt on probation on 15 March 1916, he gained Royal Aero Club Certificate 3007 in a Maurice Farman Biplane at Catterick on 29 May 1916, was appointed 2Lt Flying Officer (F)) on 17 July and in September was posted to No 17 Squadron RFC operating in Salonica (Greece).

Fowler was wounded on 5 October when his BE2c was hit by anti-aircraft fire while on reconnaissance with 2Lt J Hutchins as his observer, who escaped unhurt, but Fowler was sent to hospital in Malta. In December 1916 he was invalided back to England and upon recovery from his wounds was posted to a Home Defence (HD) squadron. He was killed on 17 March 1917 when his BE2c 7181 crashed soon after take-off from Telscombe Cliffs in the first operation of No.78 (HD) Squadron. He was buried at Rottingdean Churchyard in England.

David Dennys FOWLER was born on 20th June, 1897 in Glenelg, South Australia

His parents were James FOWLER & Mary Harriet MORGAN

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK

Died on this date - 17th March........2nd Lt David Dennys Fowler was born at Glenelg, Adelaide, South Australia in 1897. The family moved to England as Dennys Fowler was listed in the 1901 England Census as a 4 year old living with his family at 44 & 45 Albert Gate, Westminster, London, England.

David Dennys Fowler applied for an appointment to the Special Reserve of Officers – Royal Flying Corps on 13th January, 1916. At the time of applying he was a Student at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was advised that he had been selected for appointment as a 2nd Lieutenant on probation in the Special Reserve of Officer, R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps) with effect from 15th March, 1916.

Second Lieutenant David Dennys Fowler gained his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate (No. 3007) on 29th May, 1916 at Military School, Catterick Bridge on a Maurice Farman Biplane.

Second Lieutenant David Dennys Fowler reported from England and posted to No. 1 Squadron, A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps), at Heliopolis on 4th September, 1916.

Second Lieutenant David Dennys Fowler was wounded in Air Combat on 5th October, 1916. He was admitted to Military Hospital at Tigne, Malta on 22nd October, 1916 with gsw to left foot. He recovered & was attached to No. 78 Squadron, R.F.C. in England.

On night of 17th March, 1917 (Casualty Card has date as 16th March, 1917), Second Lieutenant David Dennys Fowler was flying a B.E.2s Serial number 7181 on a Zeppelin patrol after an air raid. He was turning too near to the ground, causing the left wing tip to touch & the plane crashed about one and a half miles from Telscome Cliffs Aerodrome (also known as Newhaven). He died on 17th March, 1917 near Piddinghoe, Sussex, England as a result of an air crash, on a Zeppelin Patrol, during an enemy air raid & was buried in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, Rottingdean, Sussex, England.
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