William Henry Bowden
Rank:
Private
Serial No:
Serial No. 994
Regiment:
12th Light Horse Regiment
Suburb:
Campbelltown
William Henry Bowden - Information
William Henry was the oldest son of Alexander McNaughton and Emily Helen Bowden. William was living on Queen St in Campbelltown with his parents and working as a drover when he enlisted on the 23rd of April 1915. He signed up in Sydney at 33 years of age, and was posted to the 12th Light Horse Regiment. He embarked Sydney on the HMAT Argyllshire on the 30th of September 1915 for war service.
William joined the 12th Light Horse Regiment at Heliopolis on the 7th of March 1916, and was marched into Camp at Tel-el-Kebir and Eueicher. In July, William spent some time in hospital with lumbago before returning to his unit back at Tel-el-Kebir Camp in early August. However, by September, William returned to hospital for chronic rheumatism. He was transferred to Cairo for treatment in October and then to Abbassia. Due to this chronic pain, it was understood that it would be unsuitable for William to complete field service. Therefore, he was posted to work in the Kit Stores at Depot C in May 1917. Sadly, this would not protect him from ill health, struck with phlebotomous fever. William then contracted a bronchial infection, which left him severely debilitated. He was then invalided home to Australia from the Suez Canal on the 12th of November 1917. William returned to Campbelltown and in 1929 married Robina Matthews at Petersham.