NUMBER:
Private 1412

BATTALION / UNIT / SHIP:
1st Machine Gun Company

PLACE OF BIRTH:
Erdington, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

NEXT OF KIN:
His father, Henry Bowkett, 5 Westwell Terrace, Normanton, Yorkshire

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
Foster, Victoria 16/11/1914

PHYSICAL DETAILS ON ENLISTMENT:
Age 21 years 4 months, 5'5", 146 pounds, blue eyes and dark brown hair

RELIGION:
Church of England

OCCUPATION:
Farm labourer from Dollar, Victoria

PLACE & DATE OF DEATH:
He died of wounds received at Messines Ridge on 14/6/1917

LOCATION OF GRAVE/MEMORIAL:
He is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension

RELATIONSHIP TO WOORAYL SHIRE:
He was from Dollar, Victoria

MILITARY/OTHER HISTORY:
◈ 16/11/1914 He enlisted in Foster
◈ He had spent 2 years in the Army Service Corps, Leeds, Yorkshire
◈ 22/12/1914 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Berrima
◈ 28/10/1916 He was sick in hospital
◈ 11/6/1917 He was taken to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station from the 13th Australian Machine Gun Company
◈ 14/6/1917 He died of wounds
◈ In his will he left £20 to his sister Miss M Bowkett of 3 Hilltop Mount, Harehills, Leeds and the remainder to his brother T W Bowkett, number 1411 AIF. If either predeceased him, the estate went to his NOK Henry Bowkett at the same address as his sister
◈ His father and mother, Harriette Augustine Bowkett, did not receive a pension
◈ He and his brother Thomas William Bowkett migrated to Australia from Leeds and worked in Dollar. They enlisted in Foster together
◈ His effects consisted of: discs, scissors, notebook, gold ring, photos, mirror, card case
◈ 21/3/1917 His sister was killed in an explosion at a munitions factory at Barnbow near Leeds
◈ His brother Thomas Bowkett returned to Australia