Alan Stewart Vowles

Alan Stewart was born on the 27th of February in 1891 in a suburb of Melbourne known as Kew in Victoria. He was the first child of three to Mary Lacy Vowles and Thomas Vowles. His siblings are called Violet Isabel Vowles and Eric Lacy Vowles, Violet was the youngest child. Their family then migrated to Western Australia to gain employment when there was a discovery of gold in Perth in the 1890s which was also a good opportunity for jobs. Alan’s education was involved at Claremont State School. However, his younger sister suddenly died at the age of 11 on the 21st of May 1905. This occurred when Alan was 14 years old. Three years later, his mother died on the 18th of May 1908. The causes of death were unknown. Even though these events occurred, Alan was still able to pass school and graduate. He then moved to Adelaide to complete his education at Adelaide University. After completing university, he gained 3 years of military experience working in the 88th Infantry Perth and 11th AIR in 1914 (GIHS, 2017).

 

At the age of 23 years and 7 months, he enlisted in Hobart, Tasmania on the 14th of September 1914. His height was 5 feet, 10 inches and his weight was 11 stone, 7lb. His eyesight was 6/6 and his Service number is B2455. His role in the Australian Imperial Force was 2nd Lieutenant in the 12th Battalion. (NAA, 2017). After 1 month and 6 days after enlisting, he embarked on the boat called HMAT A2 Geelong from Hobart to Fremantle. On the 31st of October, he embarked from Fremantle on the HMAT A7 Medic to assist injured or unwell soldiers onboard. On the 1st of February, Alan Stewart Vowles received a promotion to the role of Lieutenant. Then on the 2nd of March 1915, the 12th battalion joined the battle of Gallipoli.

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On the 25th of April, Alan rescued the life of a former school friend called Ashley Vines in Gallipoli. Even though the battleground was scattered with bodies, Alan was able to spot his friend even though they haven’t met since kindergarten. For five hours he dodged attacks and helped carry Vines to safety. After this event, however, Vowles was injured on the 17th of July 1915 and was sent to a hospital in Gallipoli. On the 21st he went on board a boat named Neuralia to Malta. However, he was suffering from a disease and instead embarked to England on board the HS Oxfordshire. At the No.3 London General Hospital, he suffered from dysentery, a disease that caused stomach pains and diarrhoea due to the lack of sanitation available in Gallipoli. This disease also affected other soldiers in the battle. Alan had to stay in the hospital for 1 month (GIHS, 2017).

 

On the 18th of November 1915, he returned to his unit at Mudro and rejoined the unit at Tel-El-Kebir. After a year, he received another promotion to Captain on the 20th of February. On the 19th of August he was also awarded a Distinguished Service Order. The medal has a gold cross with an imperial crown in the gold. The ribbon is red with two blue lines on the edges and were awarded to soldiers that served under fire. The medal was given to Alan with the following quote: “For conspicuous gallantry and fine leadership during a period of operations, when he commanded the greater portion of three companies in the front line with great success and ability. His cool appreciation and handling of the situation enabled the position to be held against counter attack and under heavy shell fire”(Heritage Honours and Awards, 2016).

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On New Year’s Day in 1918, Vowles requested and was discharged to help in the Indian Army. After 2 years of agssisting the Indian Army, on the 12 of December of 1919, he embarked from Burma to Australia and received an oak leaf medal for assisting the Indian Army. However, when he arrived in Australia he went to the 8th Australian General Hospital to check his health.

 

After being discharged from the hospital, he went to Tasmania for several years and got married.

On the 6th of June, 1932 in Brisbane he died from poison due to mistaking it for curing a toothache. He was 41 year olds when he died and was living in Brisbane. His burial place is also unknown. The grandson of Ashley Vines, the man that Alan rescued explained the events of them during the news and said how if it wasn’t for Alan, he most likely wouldn’t be here today. This proves that the actions and great deeds of Alan have made an impact in history and the war (Hayes, 2015).

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References

Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1884621/?query=alan+stewart+vowles&section[0]=people&op=Search , 11/09/2017

 

Glenunga International High School, 2017, RSL Virtual War Memorial, Returned and Services League of Australia SA Branch, https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/268603 ,11/09/2017

 

Liz Hayes, 2015, News, DailyMail Australia, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2969512/Wounded-stormed-beaches-Gallipoli-brave-Digger-saved-old-schoolmate-stumbled-battlefield-two-families-forged-bond-100-years-on.html , 11/09/2017

 

National Archives of Australia, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8398566 , 18/09/2017

 

Heritage Honours and Awards, 2016, Distinguished Service Order, https://www.heritagemedals.com.au/shop/distinguished-service-order/ , 18/09/2017