Bowen, James William

3159 Private James William Bowen  45^th Battalion AIF

James William Bowen was born in Newtown Sydney NSW to John and Angelina Bowen in 1885. A sister Mispah was born in 1891. The family soon moved to Western Australia where they took up residence in the Goldfields, with James attending the Coolgardie Primary School. Unfortunately, his mother died in Coolgardie in 1906. After leaving school he worked as a miner and a labourer and while doing such served with the Coolgardie Militia volunteers. John also lived for a time with his father in High Street Fremantle.

John had journeyed to New South Wales and while over there decided to enlist in the AIF. He presented himself to the Sydney recruiting office and the medical officer passed him as fit for active service. James was described as 5 feet 7 & ¼ inches; weight of 132 lbs; chest measurement of 36 inches; fair complexion; grey eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

After a short time in camp; John was assigned to the 19^th Reinforcements to the 13^th Battalion AIF. This group trained in camps at Sydney before embarking on the A70 H.M.A.T. “Ballarat” on the 6^th September 1915. After arriving in Egypt James was put into the 4^th Training Battalion and only joined the 13^th Battalion on the 4^th February 1916. A month later James was transferred into the 45^th Battalion AIF, which was the ‘daughter’ unit of the 13^th Battalion, in that the 13^th supplied half its number to form the new battalion.

The 45^th Battalion was part of the 12^th Brigade, 4^th Division. It trained in Egypt for the next three months. James was admitted to the 1^st Australian Stationary Hospital on the 28^th March 1916 with blistered feet, but he soon recovered and was back with the battalion.

On the 2^nd June 1916 James embarked from Egypt with the 45^th Battalion, their destination being Marseilles France, arriving six days later on the 8^th June 1916. They immediately took the train north to the vicinity of Armentieres, where they were to spend the next four weeks. In mid July they were relieved by the 5^th Division and they were then transferred to the Somme front.

James got through the 45^th Battalion’s actions at the Somme unscathed during August & September 1916 and went with the 45^th to Ypres where they spent a few weeks away from the Somme. In November 1916 the 45^th Battalion was back on the Somme in the region of Flers. James would spend the coldest French winter for decades in the wet, muddy conditions. He survived the winter months and took part in the 45^th’s next major actions at Bullecourt in April 1917 and Messines in June 1917. He seemed to be bearing a charmed life in that he had not even been scratched through some of the toughest battles the AIF has fought in.

During July & August 1917 the battalion garrisoned trenches in the vicinity of Warneton and he didn’t get much rest before they were to embark on their part in the Third Battle of Ypres in September 1917. On the 29^th September 1917 James Bowen was killed in action, during the 45^th’s time in the line.

His body was recovered and was buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery Plot II.I.5 near Ypres in Belgium.