Robert George McDowall

Born 27 Dec 1898

Service number: 26343 AWMM
Also known as: Bob AWMM
McDowell AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: Chaplain Class III (Major)/Military AWMM New Zealand Chaplains Department AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

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Biographical information

Bob McDowall was a Presbyterian padre with 2nd New Zealand Division in North Africa during the 'Crusader' offensive in November 1941. During the battle he went with Paddy, his driver, from dressing station to dressing station, narrowly avoiding German armoured columns, to assist with the wounded and bury the dead, regardless of nationality, until they were taken prisoner, the fate of many hundreds of New Zealanders in the desert campaign. McDowall was imprisoned at Udine in Italy. It was a time of frustration in adjusting to prison life, hoping his letters were getting through to his wife Pat and his daughter Mary and being unable to help other prisoners as much as he wanted to.

On the surrender of the Italian forces in September, McDowall was sent to Germany where he was imprisoned at Stalag IVB at Muhlburg. He remained there for the rest of the war, except for a brief stay at Stalag VIIA at Eichstatt. Mulburg was built for 13,000 but held 33,000 mainly Russian and Italian prisoners; there was also a seperate compound for the RAF and Allied prisoners. McDowall ran classes, conducted services, visited the sick and buried the dead.

Finally, in late April 1945, Muhlburg was liberated by the advancing Russian armies.

McDowall's name has been misspelt as McDowell in the Scars on the heart exhibition and the Pugsley (1966) publication. All war records spell his name McDowall.

Auckland War Memorial Museum has on display a number of items related to McDowall's period as a prisoner of war. These include a funeral conducted by McDowall, memorablia from Stalag IVB, and some of the copies of hymns McDowall carefully wrote for his congregation on whatever paper was available. The items can be viewed in 'In the Bag' of the 'Scars on the Heart' exhibition. McDowall is also quoted in the exhibition, 'We walked on a clear frosty morning to the cemetery. Our funeral was first and after a photograph I conducted and then the shots were fired and then the last post and reveille.'

Major-Chaplain R. G. McDowall (CCPG 57 PM 3200)

Letter: Undated
On my journey to this camp from the train I saw much of interest. There were 3 long waits at 2 big stations but nearly all the journey was made in the dark. At about 8pm I stepped out at a little station and my gear and 4 guards got aboard a tiny 4-wheeled cart; then we trotted along a level sealed road to the camp. There are about 4500 men here and the Roman Catholic chaplain and myself are the only chaplains. Of the 4500, 350 are Indians, 600 English, 2500 NZeers and the rest Australians. There are 3 Australian medical officers and about a dozen Serb and Russian officers. Only about 1000 are Catholic. So you see, I have a full-time job. I am very busy and happy in the work, although the work is carried on under great difficulties. I have 4 services on Sundays, Communion each Wednesday and a class at 6 o'clock each evening, besides prayers at hospital every night. There are seats for only 100 at the services, the others stand and we have hymn books for only about 40. In the evening the big hall is full with probably 800-900 men. The lights are very bad; and last night they were so poor we had to hoist the tiny portable organ on top of the bunks and Doig Palmer, of Dunedin, was playing it. There are many men here I know. The huts are full of 2-tier bunks and my congregation disappears like rabbits in a warren, when it sits down. There is much to do here and an opportunity such as one would not have anywhere else. I gave your thick jersey to a chap who had none, you would have been thrilled to see his pleasure. Our food parcels arrive regularly. Needless to say we are all very excited about the news at present and hopeful that soon we will be free again.

(Source: The New Zealand prisoner of war pamphlet (No. 12, August 1943, pp.8-9))

Major-Chaplain R. G. McDowell (Stalag IV B)

Letter 1: Undated
I am now in Germany. After the armistice we were at one point offered freedom to go to the hills when it was thought that Germans were near. Half an hour after, this was counter-manded and we were told that we would be informed if the Germans were near. We woke on Sunday to find them already round the camp and on Monday at one, we were herded into cattle trucks and sent to Austria. Myself and 2 doctors travelled in 3rd class carriages and were reasonably comfortable. The men were put in the trucks and the doors locked and then left for nearly 24 hours. I was in such a truck for 2 days from Austria to here - 42 of us. There was not room to lie down. I brought most of my stuff with me, but had to leave some treasures behind. Have all my clothing, sufficient for a year. At present we are not in a proper camp, we were sent here in error. What my work here will be like I don't know, but always there is something to do. Have met again many I had met before but have not seen Padre Mitchell or Padre Watson.

Letter 2: 17 October
Am still in a transit camp, although a little more comfortable. Our barrack is now not so full, the airmen and navy men have gone. Only non-commissioned men remain here and 3 padres will stay with them - Willis of NZ, an RC, and a Methodist from England. There will be about 3,000 here. We are in a very flat poor country, although a few miles away it is richer. Our diet is black sour bread every afternoon and for midday potatoes 5 times a week and soup twice. We get some potatoes with soup and a ration of margarine or jam with the bread. Half a Red Cross parcel the last 2 week has made a vast difference, for which God be thanked. The potatoes grown in this are are of poor quality because this year there was so little rain. I have some very good friends here and am well and happy. About 27 NZ officers here, senior being Col. Webb. I can speak reasonable German. All are cheerful and hopeful.

(Source: The New Zealand prisoner of war pamphlet (No. 18, March 1944, p.10)) AWMM

Sources

External links: Drumm, Angus. Prisoner of War Camps WWII. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 9 March 2021.
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/studentship
Further Reference
Great Britain Army. (1945). Germany and German occupied territories : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 4. London, U.K.: Government Printer. Zenodo Record.
https://zenodo.org/records/3955186
Further Reference
Great Britain Army. (1945). Italy : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 4. London, U.K.: Government Printer. Zenodo Record.
https://zenodo.org/records/4560909
Further Reference
References: Haigh, J. (1983). Men of faith and courage: the official history of the New Zealand Chaplains Department. Auckland, N.Z.: The Word Publishers.
Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 3 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1940 to 31st March, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 3: WW2 291
McDowell, Robert George. Red Cross parcel receipt, 1942. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2010-12.
Scars on the heart: two centuries of New Zealand at war
Pugsley, C. (1996)., pp. 242-43.
Tagg, Mary Alison. The Prisoner Padre : The impact of war on a New Zealand cleric, 1997. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 98/78.
McDowell, Robert George. Papers. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-874.
McDowall, Robert George. Prisoner of war diary. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 97/27.
Tagg, Mary Alison. The Prisoner Padre : The impact of war on a New Zealand cleric, 1997. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 98/78.
List of 2NZEF Prisoners of War. 1941-1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2009/8.
Great Britain Army. (1945). Germany and German occupied territories : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 4. London, U.K.: Government Printer.
Rev. M. L. Underhill [et al.] (1950). New Zealand chaplains in the Second World War. Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch, Wellington, N.Z.
Great Britain Army. (1945). Italy : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 4. London, U.K.: Government Printer.
Mason, W.W. (1954) Prisoners of war. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. Prisoners of War Enquiry Office. (1941–1944). The New Zealand prisoner of war pamphlet: Official pamphlet of the Prisoners of War Enquiry Office of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. Wellington, New Zealand.
No. 18, March 1944, p.10; No. 12, August 1943, pp.8-9
McKinney, J. (1952). Medical units of 2NZEF in Middle East and Italy. Wellington, N.Z.: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.

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Robert George McDowall