Bowers, Robert
288 Gunner Robert Bowers - 36th Heavy Artillery Group
Robert Bowers was born in Mount Morgan Rockhampton Queensland on October 2nd 1896 to RB and K Bowers.
The family moved soon to WA and took up residence at 131 Monger Street Leederville.
Robert was a Farrier by trade but joined the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery of the Australian permanent forces pre the Great War and was based at the Artillery Barracks Fremantle.
On the 1st June 1915 he enlisted for service overseas at the Fremantle Barracks.
He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height – 5 feet 11 inches;
Weight – 154 lbs;
Chest Measurement – 34-37 inches;
Complexion – Sallow;
Eyes – Brown;
Hair – Black.
He was assigned as a Gunner to the original component of the Australian Siege Brigade and the men from Fremantle Barracks were sent to Victoria to complete their training.
On the 17th July 1915 Robert boarded the transport ship Orsova in Port Melbourne and set sail for England.
After arriving in England, the men were sent to the Heavy Artillery training base and had a few months there. Robert was assigned to the 54th Battery of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group.
On the 27th February 1916 Robert and the rest of the Artillery group arrived in Boulogne France. They were sent into the line soon after and began to provide fire support for the British Armies.
In 1916 Robert and his Battery were heavily involved in the Battle of the Somme.
On the 30th November 1916 Robert was granted a fortnight's furlough to England, returning to his unit on the 14th December 1916.
On the 2nd August 1917 Robert was injured while on duty and suffered a contusion of the foot when his foot and lower leg were crushed while on gun duty. He was sent to the 2/1st East Lancashire Field Ambulance and was then transferred to the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. He had a few days here but on the 5th August 1917 was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. His injury was assessed as serious enough to be evacuated to England.
After a few months in hospital in England his foot injury had also turned septic so it was decided to send Robert back home. On the 20th December 1917 Robert boarded the transport ship Runic and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 6th February 1918.
After arriving home he was given a medical at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle and was discharged from the AIF on the 7th March 1918.
The injury meant that Robert couldn't return to his pre war career of being a Permanant Soldier.
On 7th October 1925 married Lily Bird at Carnarvon, A son Robert was born 1926, Anita in 1927, Leslie in 1929 and Reginald 1940 – lived in the Gascoyne after the marriage and then moved to Cambridge St Wembley in the 1940’s
Robert Bowers died on the 8th January 1973 at Innaloo WA.