Captain James Bowry

CAPTAIN JAMES BOWRY

1st Tunnelling Company

James ‘Jim’ Bowry was born near Charters Towers, Queensland in the parish of Kennedy on July 31, 1887, the only son of Alfred and Susan (nee Fagan) Bowry. His father was a sharebroker.

Jim was a student of the Charters Towers School of Mines. The Queensland Government Mining Journal published the following Graduation results:

With his Associate Diplomas became a Managing Director at a smelter in Liontown via Charters Towers for the Carrington United Mines, incorporating Carrington No 1 and 2E.

A call for Mining Engineers to join the Miners’ Corps was issued and several local graduates of the School of Mines were enlisting for Active Service with the Corps. The following reports are taken from The Northern Miner during the enlistment period:

The Mining Engineer left to receive basic Military training at Fraser’s Camp, Enoggera, Brisbane, Qld. An extract of a letter home to his parents was published in:

Attended the Engineer Officers’ Training School in Sydney, NSW and then to Casula Camp, Liverpool, NSW. On April 3, 1916 applied for a Commission with the Tunnelling Corps, A.I.F. His Associate qualifications provided mining experience with recent military training shown as one month – Fraser’s Camp, Brisbane; two months Sergeant and one month at Officer’s Training School. Civil employment with the Carrington United Mines at Liontown, Qld is noted and his postal address was care of his father’s business at A. Bowry, Mosman Street, Charters Towers, Qld.

Personal details reveal his height of 174cms (5ft 8¾ins), weight 72.7kgs (162lbs) with a chest expansion of 89-100cms (35-39ins). Eyesight was good. In regards to religion, stated a Free Thinker.

Two days later the application was approved and gazetted in Issue number 54 of May 12, 1916.

Attestation Forms were completed on May 1, 1916 giving further details of his age of 28 years 9 months. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Mrs Susan Bowry of King Street, Charters Towers, Qld. The form was signed on May 15, 1916 and was assigned to No 4 Company in the rank of Second Lieutenant. It consisted of 15 officers and 353 other ranks.

Jim departed Sydney, NSW aboard the transport HMAT A69 Warilda on May 22, 1916 as one 1064 members of the Tunnelling Companies. The ship berthed at Melbourne, Vic and Fremantle, W.A. departing Australian shores on June 1, 1916. Remarkable good weather during its 58-day voyage was experienced and docked at Durban, Capetown and St Vincent before terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Companies 4, 5 and 6 were detrained to Amesbury / Tidworth for further training for the front.

Proceeded to France on August 29, 1916 and was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company on September 25, 1916. The terrain was wet and difficult and officers were encouraged to write home for monetary donations to provide the company with non-issue rubber boots. His letter of request to Mr A.C. Leyshon was published:

Was promoted to Lieutenant on January 1, 1917. The following day was granted extension of Leave with a medical certificate until January 8, 1917.

His parents published an extract of their son’s letter in The Northern Miner which gives details harshness of working conditions on the Western front.

Admitted to 10 Casualty Clearing Station on February 9, 1917 suffering from a social disease then transferred on A.T. 28 and admitted to 7 Stationery Hospital for a few days before being conveyed to 39 General Hospital at Havre, France. After 54 days treatment was discharged from hospital to duty on April 3, 1917 going to the Aust. General Base Depot at Etaples and rejoined his unit five days later.

Lieutenant Bowry was selected to be a member of the firing party to detonate Hill 60 and the spoil dump referred to as Caterpillar along Messines Ridge, as the deep mines beneath were charged with explosives in readiness. Those involved were Captain O.H. Woodward, Lieutenants J. MacD. Royle and J. Bowry, Sergeant J. Wilson and 40 Sappers who left for Hill 60 at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday June 2, 1917.

In the early hours of Thursday morning June 7, 1917 Lieutenants Royle and Bowry stood in readiness each with his auxiliary exploder connected and ready should the dynamo fail to fire the mines. British General Lambert counted down the minutes on his synchronized stopwatch and the switch was thrown by Captain Woodward at 3.10 a.m. destroying the two mines along with 17 others simultaneously. The auxiliary exploders were not required as the firing went without a hitch.

The 2nd Army’s Rest Camp for Tunnellers waited at Malhove, near Arques and St Omer for the men who had worked to so hard for the Messines Ridge explosion. Ten doubled-decked London Motor Buses conveyed C.O. Major Henry and his men including Capt. Woodward, Lieutenants Clinton, Royle, Bowry and Carroll and 200 other ranks for 12 days rest from June 15, 1917.

Deciding to supplement their Military rations and treat themselves to some local cuisine for dinner, the Officers between them raised $8 (£4) sending Major Henry and Lt Bowry to purchase some of St Omer’s offerings. Appetizers in the form of a few pots of Caviar and Pate de Fois Gras along with three bottles of alleged ‘vintage’ wine and a bottle of Brandy were all their procured for four pounds.

Lt Bowry cabled his parents with the following news which appeared in The Northern Miner:

By July 31, 1917 Lieutenant had returned to 1st Tunnelling Company.

His experiences in the Hill 60 region are detailed in a letter to his parents, which was published in The Northern Miner on Tuesday August 21, 1917 under the heading ‘A Letter from France’:

The Lieutenant wrote to the man who was the Mayor of Charters Towers at the time he enlisted about

his experiences, this extract appeared in The Northern Miner.

On April 7, 1918 Lieut Bowry received a special mention in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch for conspicuous service.

The Northern Miner acknowledged three local citizens who were Mentioned in Despatches including Lt Bowry.

On September 10, 1918 was promoted to be Temporary Captain and three days later confirmation of his rank was verified.

Official notification dated November 18, 1918 from Base Records reporting his Mention in Despatches was received by his parents. The Mention appeared in the London Gazette dated May 28, 1918 for conspicuous services rendered. It read:

Lieutenant J. BOWRY

The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No 165 dated October 24, 1918 also printed his mention.

After the Armistice the Tunnelling Companies remained to assist with Rehabilitation and clearing of roads. Was still with his unit on December 31, 1918 and marched out to A.G.B.D. at Havre to prepare for Repatriation on February 26, 1919. On March 12, 1919 he returned to England.

Left Southampton, England on March 28, 1919 on board H.T. City of Poona for the return voyage to Australia. His next-of-kin was notified of his impending return on April 18, 1919.

As a result the following news items appeared in The Northern Miner.

The transport arrived in the 3 Military District (Vic) on May 14, 1919 and his Appointment was terminated in the 2 M.D. (NSW) on July 1, 1919.

Further news appeared during the next two months.

A Certificate for being Mentioned in Despatches was sent on February 25, 1920.

The 1920 Anzac Dinner was attended by Jim Bowry who also proposed a Toast. An extract appears regarding the event.

Two Oak Leaves were forward to him on September 23, 1920 in recognition of being Mentioned in Despatches.

Captain James Bowry was awarded for overseas service for his country the British War Medal (46363) and the Victory Medal (45292).

In February, 1925 was a member of the Tunnellers Old Comrades Association, the address of J. Bowry, (M) Captain in the 1st Company was given as c/o Bank of New South Wales, Hornsby, N.S.W.

(His sister Mrs Norman’s address.)

He married Clarice Wisdom.

The Western Argus on Tuesday January 6, 1931 reports of his work in various states of the country.

A few years later he was consulting for another company:

A Statement of Service was sent to the Repatriation Department on March 6, 1936.

James Bowry died in Perth, W.A. on March 9, 1936 aged 49 years. The West Australian Tuesday & Wednesday March 10 & 11, 1936 published the family notices and arrangements:

His grave is located in the Roman Catholic portion of Karrakatta Cemetery within section HA, grave no. 327.

No Death Notice appeared in The Northern Miner but a notice was placed in the Sydney Morning Herald. It reads:

His report was still mentioned in the Gold Mining Company’s operation later that year:

Notices of Remembrance were published a year later in The West Australian on Tuesday March 9, 1937:

Mrs Clarice Bowry of 11 Harvest Terrace, West Perth wrote on March 25, 1937 to Victoria Barracks, 2nd M.D. (NSW) which was the address on the box her husband’s medals were posted in, inquiring if he had any further medals as he had told her he had two others and believed he had a Military Cross Medal. She required the information as she wanted to get them in miniature. The letter was forwarded to Base Records and their reply dated April 9, 1937 stated that he received two medals – The British War Medal and The Victory Medal. No record of an M.C. [Military Cross] had been awarded to him.

His Military Records do not record Captain Bowry as being treated for gas poisoning during his service and a request was issued for any information regarding exposure witnessed by other members of his company but no correspondence was filed with his records:

On October 24, 1968 Mrs Clarice Foureur (nee Bowry) of 30 Railway Terrace, Goodwood, S.A. wrote in regards to the issue of a Gallipoli Badge. A Non-eligible proforma was sent to her on November 7, 1968.