PUBLIC NOTICE - THE GEELONG ADVERTISER, MONDAY APRIL 2 1917

PRIVATE GOWTY’S DEATH

Prior to going to the war Ernest Gowty, who grew up in Aberdeen Street Baptist Sunday School, was a chorister and one of the most regular attendants.

 News of his death when fighting for his country somewhere in France recently came to hand and yesterday a Memorial service was conducted by the Rev. A. D. Shaw.

The deceased influence in the church and school had been felt in the past; now they valued more highly than ever his good qualities.  “ he being dead, yet speaketh”  We honoured the brave. Who will return no more.

A large number of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society were present.

The choir sang “Crossing the Bar under the conductor ship of Mr A McCaskill who by special request sang ‘He Careth for Me”

ENLISTED: JULY 1915

ACTIVE SERVICE: 4 APRIL - 12 FEBRUARY 1917

leaving Melbourne on the Euripides bound for Alexandria, 4.4.1916

arriving in Plymouth on the Franconia 16.6.1916 

marching across France to join the AIF 29th Battalion, 19.9.1916

camp at battlefield, Fricourt France, 22.9.1916

Killed in Action near Fricourt Wood

Ernest Harold Gowty was Killed in Action on 12 February 1917 on the battlefield near Fricourt wood

He was buried in the field, near the Fricourt Chateau, map reference 57c.N.27.B.2.9

His grave was identified by markings on a wooden cross

His body was exhumed and reburied at the Bancourt British Cemetery, Picardie, France

Plot VI, Row C, Grave No. 20

Service Medals

The medals shown below are replicas of what were issued on the 23/12/1921.

Unfortunately the location of the original medals is unknown

The document below is the AIF record of the medals being sent to his parents

1914-1918 Memorial Plaque, Scroll & Letter from King George

In February 1923, six years after Ernest Harold Gowty was killed in action these mementos were sent to his parents, James and Mary Gowty who resided in Geelong. 

I became the custodian of the plaque after my father, (Ernest George Gowty), passed away in 2012. Up until this time I was not aware of the plaque. 

It is my intention to research the life of Earnest Harold Gowty and record it so that we do not forget the contribution that he made, "Lest We Forget" 

record of transfer by AIF

original plaque

copy of scroll & King George letter

In early 1920 it was announced that the next-of-kin of all Australian servicemen and women whose deaths were attributable to the First World War would receive a memorial plaque and scroll "as a solace for bereavement and as a memento".

The memorial plaques were not uniquely Australian. In fact they were designed and produced in Britain and issued to commemorate all those who died as a result of war service from within the British Commonwealth.

The idea for the plaques was originally conceived mid-way through the war. In 1917 a competition was announced to obtain a suitable design and 800 entries were eventually received. The winner, Mr. E. Carter Preston of Liverpool, England, was chosen in 1918. He was awarded a prize of 250 pounds.

Mr Manning Pike directed the manufacture of the memorial plaques at the Memorial Plaque Factory set up at Acton, London. Some later plaques were also made at the Woolwich Arsenal.

The cost of manufacturing so many plaques must have been considerable. Each plaque had the name of the soldier commemorated individually embossed (some were engraved) as part of the design. The full name was given without any indication of rank or honours to show the equality of sacrifice of all those who had lost their lives.

The scroll designed to accompany the plaques was of thick paper, headed by the royal coat-of-arms, and bore the following message:

"He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those that come after see that his name is not forgotten".

Underneath the message the serviceman or woman’s name, rank, honours and unit were written by hand in red ink.

Because of the late arrival in Australia of the plaques many scrolls were sent out separately. A message from the King, was included with the scroll

"I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War",

The first plaques were distributed in Australia in 1922. Each plaque was sent out from Base Records Office at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne by second-class mail. Approximately 60,000 plaques were issued in Australia.

Families of deceased members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army Nursing Service also received plaques and scrolls

.

Australian Honour Roll Records

                                                



    


ERNEST HAROLD GOWTY


Regimental number          3033

Place of birth                     Geelong, Victoria

Religion                              Baptist

Occupation                        Cement tester

Address                              24 Melbourne Road, Geelong West, Victoria

Marital status                     Single

Age at embarkation           22

Next of kin                          Father, James Samuel Gowty, 24 Melbourne Road, Geelong  West, Victoria

Enlistment date                 22 July 1915

Rank on enlistment           Acting Corporal

Unit name                           29th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement

Embarkation details          Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 4 April 1916

Rank, Nominal Roll            Private

Unit from Nominal Roll     29th Battalion

Fate,Killed in Action         12 February 1917

Age at death                       23

Place of burial                    Bancourt British Cemetery (Plot VI, Row C, Grave No. 20),    France

Panel number                     Roll of Honour,  Australian War Memorial 115

Parents                               James and Mary Gowty, 24 Melbourne Road, Geelong, Victoria

Other details                      War service: Western Front, France

Medals:                               British War Medal, Victory Medal, WW1 Service Star