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Cenotaph record

Alfred John Bowie

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Alfred John AWMM
  • Surname
    Bowie AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    15835 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    19 November 1903 AWMM Matamau, Manawatu-Wanganui AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Lovell's Flat, Otago, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs Muriel Florence Bowie (wife), Lovell's Flat, Otago, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Married AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    15835 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    Military Medal (MM) AWMM
    28 January 1943 AWMM
    'On 24 October 1942 Sergeant Bowie was a stretcher-bearer sergeant at MITEIRIYA RIDGE, Egypt, where he organised and assisted the carrying out of wounded across a minefield to a place where they could be evacuated by a Bantam vehicle. While doing this he was under continuous shell-fire and sniping one man who was with him was shot through the head but he continued on his own until help could be obtained. Later that morning while taking a load of wounded away his vehicle ran on to a mine and was destroyed. In spite of suffering concussion Sergeant Bowie kept going until the field was clear of wounded. In the afternoon a shell burst in the regimental aid post killing one and wounding three and Sergeant Bowie was again concussed and evacuated. Within twenty-four hours he was back again, saying he was better for the rest and until the Battalion was withdrawn from operations he was continuously at work. By his readiness at all times to go anywhere for wounded and his initiative in dealing with the seriously wounded he lessened the time spent in the open by the wounded to a minimum. His bearing and example set a very high level for the stretcher-bearers to follow.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Bowie, Alfred John. (Ref. WO 373/23/429). Military Medal. AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM Farmer/Civilian AWMM
    Milton, Otago 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

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Son of Sophia Bowie and John Bowie.

    Husband of Muriel Florence Bowie (nee Sutherland).

    Sergeant A. J. Bowie, MM; Kaitangata; born Matamau, 19 Nov 1903; farmer. (Source: Norton, F. D. 26 Battalion. p.193.)

    'Shortly afterwards Capt Rutherford and his staff arrived. To an anxious inquiry they reported that the Transport Group was still held up in the minefield. The RAP was set up in the wadi, and almost as soon as it was up the doctor and Sergeant Bowie set out to collect the wounded from the forward slope. For some time stretcher-bearers had been carrying wounded across to a central line between A and C Coys to await evacuation. Some were sheltering in a captured RAP, together with a spectacled German doctor and several of his patients. From 4.30 a.m. onwards Bowie spent most of the time in the forward areas attending to the wounded and helping the stretcher-bearers. On several occasions he accompanied the doctor in a jeep over ground thickly sown with mines. Back and forwards they went despite the shelling and mortar fire. Twice their jeep was blown up, but another was soon acquired and they carried on as though nothing had happened. Bowie suffered concussion and was evacuated but within twenty-four hours was back again. The stretcher-bearers were doing a grand job. Corporal Lonie and Pte Ives attended to C Coy wounded and trundled them back to the collection point in a German handcart. It was a tribute to all concerned that only three of a total of nearly eighty wounded died during the 24-hour action.' (Source: Norton, F. D. 26 Battalion. p. 193.) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    1969 AWMM
    Age 65 AWMM
    New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    • Births, Deaths and Marriages (New Zealand) Historical Records online
      https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
      Sources Used
    • Norton, F. (1952). 26 Battalion. Wellington, Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
      http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-26Ba.html
      Further Reference
    • 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.' (London Gazette, 28 January 1943, p.526.). Military Medal.
      http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35879/supplements/526
      Further Reference
    • 'On 24 October 1942 Sergeant Bowie was a stretcher-bearer sergeant at MITEIRIYA RIDGE, Egypt, where he organised and assisted the carrying out of wounded across a minefield to a place where they could be evacuated by a Bantam vehicle. While doing this he was under continuous shell-fire and sniping one man who was with him was shot through the head but he continued on his own until help could be obtained. Later that morning while taking a load of wounded away his vehicle ran on to a mine and was destroyed. In spite of suffering concussion Sergeant Bowie kept going until the field was clear of wounded. In the afternoon a shell burst in the regimental aid post killing one and wounding three and Sergeant Bowie was again concussed and evacuated. Within twenty-four hours he was back again, saying he was better for the rest and until the Battalion was withdrawn from operations he was continuously at work. By his readiness at all times to go anywhere for wounded and his initiative in dealing with the seriously wounded he lessened the time spent in the open by the wounded to a minimum. His bearing and example set a very high level for the stretcher-bearers to follow.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Bowie, Alfred John. (Ref. WO 373/23/429). Military Medal.
      http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7360637
      Further Reference
  • References
    • Sutherland, J. (1989). Gallantry awards to New Zealanders in World War Two. Christchurch, N.Z.: Regal Medals. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 4 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1941 to 30 June, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 4: WW2 37 AWMM
    • Norton, F. (1952). 26 Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      p.193. AWMM
    • New Zealand Gazette AWMM
      MM. New Zealand Gazette, September 1944, p. 1145 AWMM
    • Norton, F. (1952). 26 Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM

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