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Cenotaph record

John Stephen Cowles

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Portait of John Stephen Cowles 38831. Image kindly provided by Bernice Brooks (November 2018). Image may be subject to copyright restrictions.

Portait of John Stephen Cowles 38831. Image kindly provided by Bernice Brooks (November 2018). Image …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John Stephen AWMM
  • Surname
    Cowles AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII 38831 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    4 May 1913 AWMM Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 36 Matai Rd, Hataitai, Wellington AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mr S.G. Cowles, 36 Matai Rd, Hataitai, Wellington (father) AWMM
  • Relationship status
    1940 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
    El Alamein AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWII 38831 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 1941 AWMM Clerk Nominal Roll
    Nominal Roll
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

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
    08 Feb 1946 {Age 32} AWMMDied after Discharge from Wounds Inflicted or Disease Contracted while on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • His father Stephen Glanville Cowles (44185) served during the First World War.

    From his medical records; Wounded in action on the 24th October 1942, advancing on foor wearing tin-hat, last memory was lying on face and hearing two shells burst behind him and one in front of him. First memory after injury was still lying out in the field and he asked for a stretcher bearer because he could not move. Head felt sore and left eye closed up with dirt. He was admitted to a Scottish Hospital.

    While serving with the 25th Battalion, John received shrapnel wounds to his head in El Alamein. In December 1942 he was evacuated to New Zealand on board the NZHS Maunganui. John was admitted to Dunedin Hospital for brain surgery and died on the 8th of February 1946. AWMM
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Death

About death

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Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Related Serviceperson

Sources

Sources

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