The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 60th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 26 February 1916.

Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, South Road Head, 13 May 1916 (post-inoculation), and transferred to 15th Australian Field Ambulance (acting No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station) (no further details recorded).

Promoted Lieutenant, 12 April 1916.

Promoted Captain, 1 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported Missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 2170305: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Statement, 3210 Pte C. PAIGE, A Company, 60th Bn, 4 August 1916: 'I was in the charge with Capt. Plowman at Fleurbaix on July 19th and saw him fall wounded by the creek in No Man's Land, about 200 yds from our lines. He was lying on his face and tearing into the ground after he fell. He had blood on his back and appeared badly wounded. I went on, was buried by a shell and managed to get out and crawl back into our lines.'

Second statement, 3780 Pte A.J. BANNISTER, 60th Bn (patient, Rust Hall VAD Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, England), 5 August 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19th, 1916, at Fleurbaix, a man who was next to Captain Plowman told Informant that he saw Captain Plowman killed. He was blown to pieces.'

Third statement, 3225 Pte D. PIGGOTT, 60th Bn (patient, 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, England), 8 August 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th July 1916 at Fromelles at 6.45 p.m. a charge was made and Plowman was shot in the leg before we took the first two lines of German trenches. He continued to advance holding his leg and hopping. I saw him at 8 p.m. when I was wounded.'

Fourth statement, 4908 Pte H. PRETTY, A Company, 60th Bn (patient, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London, England), 8 August 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th July, 1916 at about 7.0 p.m. after taking the German first trench, and between it and the 2nd trench he saw Capt. Plowman hit by a shell on the head and believes he was killed immediately in action. Informant was by his side at the time, and was hit himself soon after and lay near him for a short time.'

Fifth statement, 4520 Pte A.R. HEANEY, 60th Bn (patient, 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln, England), 14 August 1916: 'Informant believes that Capt Plowman was taken prisoner at Fleurbaix. He was in the same charge as Capt Plowman on July 19th and went out afterwards to look for wounded and dead and to collect discs and Capt Plowman was not found.' Note by interviewer: 'Informant is intelligent and reliable.'

Sixth statement, 4529 Pte L. KNIGHT, 60th Bn (patient, Edmonton Hospital, London, England), 15 August 1916: 'On 19th July 1916 at Armentieres he saw Capt. Plowman wounded, his right arm being blown off. Informant was wounded at the same time and Capt. Plowman came up to him and gave him his last drop of water. Informant then saw Capt. Plowman blown up and killed.'

Seventh statement, 2496 Pte C. KENDALL, A Company, 60th Bn (patient, 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England), 18 August 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19/16 at Armentieres during the advance they were in the open, when he saw Capt. Plowman's dead body close to him in "No Man's Land". They retired, the body had not been brought in when informant left wounded, the next morning.'

Eighth statement, 2845 Pte R. COLLIS, B Company, 60th Bn (patient, HM Queen Mary's Royal Naval Hospital, Southend, England), 28 August 1916: 'Informant states that Capt. Plowman died going up to the dressing station on July 19th Nr. Armentieres. He had shrapnel wounds all over him, he would be buried at a little graveyard near Armentieres.'

Ninth statement, 3854 Pte D. McCASKILL, C Company, 60th Bn (patient, HM Queen Mary's Royal Naval Hospital, Southend, England), 2 August 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th July, 1916, at Fleurbaix, Armentieres, he was killed right in the front line on the field. It happened by machine gun, he was cut right through the thighs, separated his legs from his body. I was just behind him about 75 yards when it occurred.'