William Cowan

First Name: 
William
Last Name: 
Cowan
Mother's Name: 
Annie Cowan nee Grant
Father's Name: 
Andrew Cowan
Date Enlisted: 
Tuesday, March 9, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
20th Battalion
Company: 
A
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Saturday, April 3, 1976
Details: 

William Cowan (Service No 348) was born in Lithgow, N.S.W in 1890.

At enlistment William was single, 23 years old, worked as a miner, and lived in Helensburgh, N.S.W.  He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A35 Berrima with 20th Battalion, A Company, on 25th June 1915.  He arrived in Egypt in late July 1915 but his file is unclear as to whether he served at Gallipoli.

William arrived in France on 25th March 1916 and served until 5th August 1916 when he was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his right thigh.  Deemed unfit for further active service, William was repatriated to Australia in October 1916.

He was discharged medically unfit from 4th Australian General Hospital on 19th May 1917, with a pension. 

William died in 1976; his service is commemorated on the Helensburgh School Roll of Honour.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, COWAN W