Thomas Alfred McGowan

(Confirmed)

Born: 1 July, 1888

Died: 17 March, 1947

Biographical Summary:

A labourer who enlisted in the AIF on 1 October 1915. He embarked for Egypt on 20 January and arrived on 25 February 1916.

He arrived at Marseilles, France on 3 April 1916 and moved to a holding depot in northern France then joined the 19th Battalion on 1 June. He was wounded (right thigh) in action at Pozieres, France on 4 August 1916. He was evacuated to hospital in France and returned to his unit on 21 August.

He was wounded (face) in action a second time on 14 November 1916 near Flers, France when his Battalion took part in a joint Australian and British attack on the German trench system. His unit alone suffered 381 casualties out of a strength of 451. Following initial treatment in France, he was evacuated to England for further treatment and convalescence.

He rejoined the 19th Battalion which was in a rest area at Favreuil north of Bapaume, France, on 28 March 1917. He was wounded (left thigh) in action for a third time on 22 September 1917 at Westhoek Ridge, Belgium. Following hospital treatment and a short convalescence in France, he rejoined his unit in Belgium on 20 October 1917.

He was wounded (right leg) in action for a fourth time 8 August 1918, the first day of the Hundred Day Offensive, when his unit was pushing through the German lines east of Villers-Bretonneux. He as initially treated in France, then evacuated to England for further treatment and convalescence.

He embarked for Australia on 12 December 1918 and arrived on 1 February 1919 then was discharged from the AIF on 24 April 1919. [JSB]

Recorded Names: