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William Bernard Bowles

Portrait of William Bernard Bowles, c.1915. SCRoll Project, South Canterbury Museum, 2010/017.01. Image is subject to copyright restrictions.

Portrait of William Bernard Bowles, c.1915. SCRoll Project, South Canterbury Museum, 2010/017.01. Im …

Identity

  • Title
  • Forenames
    William Bernard AWMM
  • Surname
    Bowles AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWI 24/978 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW1 10 Victoria Avenue, Invercargill, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 W.G. Bowles (father), Waimate, Canterbury, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 9 October 1915 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 24/978 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal (MM) AWMM
      London Gazette, 2 April 1918, p4023, Rec No 1817: AWMM
    • Victory Medal AWMM
      For conspicuous gallantry in the Reutel Sector on the 17th January 1918. This NCO after observing an artillery shoot on an enemy strong point, organised a patrol of four men and volunteered to enter the enemy post. He led this patrol and reconnoitered the position during daylight and under machine gun and direct rifle fire from an enemy position 50 yards distant. He obtained identification from enemy dead and wounded, an captured an enemy machine gun which he carried back to our lines. The men have spent some time under very trying weather conditions and this NCO's initiative has instilled into all an excellent offensive spirit. His work in action and in the line on repeat occasions has been very good. AWMM
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 OtagoNew Zealand AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • William Bowles was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Bowles, of Waimate, Canterbury, New Zealand. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    6 April 1918 AWMM
    SommeNorthern France AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France AWMM I. I. 7. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Railways Roll of Honour board. Wellington Railway Station, Pipitea, Wellington 6011. AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of William Bernard Bowles

Leave a note

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  • Bernie Bowles was my uncle, my mother's half brother. My cousin and I donated his portrait and medals to the museum in Timaru.
    Public - Jennifer - Direct descendant - 26 April 2017
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
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Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
26 April 2017Jennifer Methven NZDirect descendant
04 September 2016AllanRotoruaResearcher

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