| Regimental number | 6773 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Uralla, New South Wales |
| School | Deepwater, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Sheep farmer |
| Address | Deepwater, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Next of kin | Father, James Cowley, Deepwater, New South Wales |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 18th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/35/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 35th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Villers-Bretonneux, France1 |
| Age at death | 18 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 18 |
| Place of burial | Crucifix Corner Cemetery (Plot V, Row B, Grave No. 11), Villers-Bretonneux, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 125 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: James and Martha COWLEY, Rock Abbey, Deepwater, New South Wales |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 6772 Pte Leslie COWLEY, 35th Bn, returned to Australia, 3 July 1919. |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Embarked from Sydney, 6 June 1917; disembarked Plymouth, 25 August 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 1 January 1918; taken on strength, 35th Bn, 7 January 1918. Missing in action, later declared killed in action, 4 April 1918. 6773A Pte F.W. BERGEMANN stated (deposition, Hurcott, 26 September 1918): '6773 W. Cowley "D" Coy., 35th Battalion, was carrying ammunition for the Lewis Gunners of "C" Coy. of the same Battalion, at Villers-Bretonneux on the 4th April, 1918. To reach the trenches we followed the railway line and had to get over a rise. We were nearly there when the above named got wounded. Owing to necessity of getting the ammunition to the gunners we were unable to assist him. We asked him how he was and he replied "alright take care of yourselves." The boys of "C" Coy. said they would try and get him in when things quietened down. This was the last I saw of him, and have heard nothing of him since.' 6821 Pte D. Rix stated in a deposition (Hurdcott, 23 June 1918): 'At 5 p.m. on the 4th April 1918 myself and three "A" Company Stretcher Bearers carried 6773 Private Cowley W. to the dressing station at Villers-Bretonneux. He appeared to be severely wounded and in my opinion was in a dying condition. I never saw him afterwards.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal ~ |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
