| Regimental number | 2117 |
| Place of birth | Yarraville, Victoria |
| School | St Ambrose's Boys School, Brunswick, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | 23 Buninyong Street, South Yarra, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 19 |
| Next of kin | Father, Robert Cowan, 23 Buninyong Street, South Yarra, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Cadets, Citizens Forces of Yarraville, Victoria |
| Enlistment date | 16 July 1915 |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 23rd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/40/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 27 September 1915 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 23rd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action 23 August 1916 |
| Place of death or wounding | Pozieres, Somme Sector, France |
| Date of death | 23 August 1916 |
| Age at death | 20.8 |
| Family/military connections | Uncle: Private John Murphy, Regimental No. 3574, 24th Battalion, killed in action 18 March 1918 |
