Fowlie, George
22057 Sapper George Fowlie - 3rd Field Company Engineers
George was born 1875 Millbrex Aberdeenshire Scotland to Thomas and Barbara Fowlie, being one of nine siblings.
In 1891 he was living at Fyvie in Aberdeenshire and after leaving school he had taken up employment as a tailor. He was in Scotland till the early 1900's and then came out to Western Australia, initially taking up residence in Adelaide Street Fremantle. They also had a shop at 132 High Street Fremantle. They then oved the shop to 87 cantonment street.
George was married on 26th march 1910 at the Presbyterian Church Fremantle to Olive May Dixon.
In 1910 they lived in Fitzgerald street Geraldton where George was working as a tailor but then moved back to Fremantle in 1911.
A daughter Jean was born in Fremantle in 1911, followed by Joan born in Fremantle in 1912, and Gavin born in Fremantle in 1913.
The family lived at 13 Sinclair Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 3 Sinclair and then the street renamed to Little Lefroy Lane)
George split his time between Fremantle and Geraldton where he still did work as a tailor in Marine Terrace.
On the 11th September 1917 George enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Geraldton. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 10 & 3/4 inches tall;
Weight - 156lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-38 inches;
Complexion - Pale;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment George was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was initially assigned to the training depot. He was then assigned to the field engineers and was sent to NSW to continue with his training. He was at the Moore Park Camp and after a several weeks of training was assigned to an engineering company reinforcement group that was leaving NSW.
On the 21st March 1918 George and his reinforcement group boarded the transport ship HMAT Persin in Sydney and set sail for England, arriving at London on the 24th May 1918.
After their arrival in England, George and his group were sent to the Engineers Training Camp at Brightlingsea. He would be in England for the remainder of 1918.
Despite the war being over, George was sent to France on the 30th January 1919 and was sent to join the 3rd Field Company Engineers.
After only a short time with his unit George fell ill with bronchitis and double pneumonia and was evacuated to the 55th General Hospital. After a few weeks, George was sent to England on the 2nd March 1919 and was admitted to King George Hospital in London. After a few days he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford.
George had recovered quite well and on the 17th March 1919 was granted a two week furlough. George then applied for some non military employment. From the 25th March to 5th June 1919 he went to work at a tailor and cutter academy at Shaftesbury Avenue London.
After finishing this non military employment, George reported back to Headquarters and was given a leave period during which he returned to his birthplace of Aberdeen.
On the 10th July 1919 he reported back to camp at Sutton Veny and would now wait to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 3rd September 1919 George boarded the transport ship Barambah and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 17th October 1919.
He was discharged from the AIF on the 10th November 1919.
He then returned home and resumed his employment as a tailor.
He worked at 36 south terrace Fremantle tailor, later moving to 11 Pakenham street.
George died on the 9th May 1947 aged 69. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Presbyterian MON EE 0553.