BOWMAN, Charles
| Service Number: | 729 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Black Mountain, New South Wales, Australia, 13 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Hamilton Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Tram conductor (Newcastle District Tramways) |
| Died: | Died of wounds, 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, France, 9 June 1917, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton Newcastle District Tramways Roll of Honor, Hamilton Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Hamilton War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 729, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 729, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 729, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 9 Jun 1917: | Involvement Corporal, 729, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 729 awm_unit: 35th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-06-09 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Charles BOWMAN, (Service Number 729) was born on 22 July 1893 at Armidale. On 28 September 1915 he commenced work as a casual electric tram conductor in Newcastle, a job he was still undertaking on 17 January 1916 when he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces. He enlisted on the same day.
He embarked from Australia on 1 May 1916 through Sydney on HMAT ‘Benalla’, reaching Plymouth in July. After a time in hospital he proceeded overseas to France in late November joining the 35th Battalion.
On 15 February he was wounded but remained on duty. A week later he was promoted to Corporal, in place of Corporal Oates who had died of wounds. He was again wounded in action on 7 June and admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his chest. He died of those wounds two days later.
He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), Lille.
(NAA B2455-3104104)
Submitted 11 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Let us remember a Fallen soldier of The Great War awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
On the 9th June 1917, Corporal Charles Bowman, referred to as Carl, 35th Battalion (Reg No-729), tram conductor (Newcastle District Tramways), from 127 Cleary Street, Hamilton Park, New South Wales, Died of Wounds at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, France, Battle of Messines, age 24.
No Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing File.
Born at Black Mountain, New South Wales on the 13th February 1893 to Henry Patrick (Harry, died 24.5.1940, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 76), and Jessie Bowman nee Bell (died 24.8.1942, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 74), Carl enlisted on the 17th January 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A24 Benalla on the 1st May 1916.
Admitted to hospital 4.8.1916 (not stated).
Wounded in action - 15.2.1917 (not stated), 7.6.1917 (GSW chest).
Cpl Bowman is resting at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension France. Plot III Row C Grave 123.
Place of Association – Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Carl’s name has been inscribed on the Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial, Hamilton Superior Public School Roll of Honor, Hamilton Municipal District Roll of Honor, Newcastle District Tramways Roll of Honor and the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919.
Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription on the headstone plaque for the Bowman family to tell us of the loss of their son during The Great War, and I am unable to erect a Memorial cross, so I have placed poppies at the gravesite in remembrance of the service and supreme sacrifice of their son Charles for God, King & Country. CATHOLIC 2-58. 11.
Younger brother Joseph (born 12.7.1896, Singleton, New South Wales, baker from 127 Cleary Street, Hamilton Park, New South Wales, enlisted-9.10.1916, 56th Battalion, Reg No-3120, wounded in action - 16.5.1917 (SW left leg, severe), 23.9.1917 (GSW left leg, severe), RTA 5.7.1918, died 14.3.1969, Pelican, N.S.W., age 72, not officially commemorated) also served 1st A.I.F.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
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