Moorgate Cemetery

William Harold Gower

Born in Latrobe, Tasmania 1895,  William Harold Gower was the son of James Henry and Sarah Ann Gower of Latrobe.

He enlisted December 1915 in Melbourne into 4th Australian Field Artillery brigade and landed in Egypt in August 1916 for training.

He served in France from January 1917 with the 105th Howitzer battery 5th Australian Field Artillery brigade. He was wounded in September 1917 near St. Quentin and evacuated to the Lord Derby hospital in Warrington. While convalescing he visited Rotherham with another Australian serviceman who had relatives there. 

He contracted influenza and died at 62 St Johns Road, Eastwood, Rotherham on 4 Nov 1918 aged 23, and was buried in Moorgate cemetery at 10am 11 November 1918 (one hour before the Armistice) with full military honours including a firing party and bugler.

His brother, John Donald Gower 2938, enlisted in Aug 1915 to the 12th battalion Australian Infantry and died of wounds received in action in France 29 July 1916, aged 19, and is buried in Boulogne Eastern cemetery.

William Harold Gower Grave

(Article and image kindly supplied by Steve Walsh)