Oliver John Dowell
From Our Contribution
"Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire" p.141 | |
Personal Information | |
---|---|
Date of Birth | unknown |
Place of Birth | Canningdale, Western Australia |
Death | 21 May 1975, aged 77 |
Place of Death | Victoria Park |
Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 5 months |
Description | 5'6½" (1.69m) tall; weight 140 lbs (63.5 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair |
Occupation | orchardist |
Religion | Church of England |
Address | Bedfordale, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Father Mr Joseph Richard Dowell |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | 52052 |
Date of Enlistment | 8 Sep 1917 |
Rank | Lance Corporal |
Unit/Formation | 1st General reinforcements allocated to 28th Battalion, transferred to 3rd Motor Transport Company. |
Date of Embarkation | 8 May 1918 - 16 Jul 1918 |
Ship Embarked On | SS Port Darwin |
Date of Return | 18 Dec 1919 - 28 Jan 1920 |
Ship Returned On | SS Konigen Luise |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Monument |
Armadale (Bedfordale panel) Bedfordale Honour Roll |
Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Training in Australia was general in nature before departing for England from Albany ON arrival at Southampton, Oliver was sent to the 5th training Battalion at Fovant on 17 Aug 1918 for infantry training as he was allocated to the 28th Battalion.
On 4 Oct 1918 he proceeded overseas to France via Dover to join the Australian Infantry Base Depot. Joined 28th Battalion on 11 Oct 1918 along with 84 others, a month before hostilities ceased. The battalion was in a rear rest area at Berteaucourt-les-Dames in Picardy some 25 km north west of Amiens.
Detached to the Australian Motor Transport on 25 Mar 1919, he joined the 1st Australian Motor Transport Company on 8 Apr 1919, but was transferred to the 3rd Australian Motor Transport Company on 22 May 1919 and appointed temporary Driver on 2 Jun 1919.
A fortnight later he marched out for England where he spent another 6 months before shipping out for Australia on the SS Konigen Luise. Discharged 5th Military District 17 Mar 1920.
Post War
While Oliver initially returned to Bedfordale to work on the orchard (1925 electoral roll), by 1931 he was a motor driver living in Keitley road Subiaco.
In 1931 he married Grace Emily Alice Smith, and on 1 Jul 1932 a daughter arrived, followed by premature twin sons in June 1935.
In 1936 he was living at "Windsor" on Fairway in Nedlands and is a gardener, remaining there until after the end of WW2, when he and his wife Grace Emily Alice return to Bedfordale to again work on the orchard.
The 1972 nominal roll has him still on Albany Highway in Bedfordale.
Grace died 3 Sep 1996 aged 90 in Como.
Notes