Charles Edward BOW
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4735), Charles Edward Bow was born at Parramatta, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 29 years and 4 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as bricklayer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 3 ½ inches tall, weight 9 stone 6 lbs., with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Congregational. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
He completed his medical examination at Ashfield on 12th November 1915, and was attested at Ashfield by Lieutenant S. Stilling on the 12th November 1915 (on the last day of the Coo-ee March, the day the Coo-ees marched from Ashfield to Sydney).
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 22nd December 1915 Private Bow was charged with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp on the 17th, 18th and 19th of December 1915. He was fined.
On 8th February 1916 he was charged with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp on the 1st and 2nd of February 1916. He was fined.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was his address was C/o Mrs J. Langan, Tolorno, Coventry Road, Homebush, N.S.W. His next of kin was listed as his father, G.[George] Bow, Phillip Street, Parramatta, N.S.W.
On 8th March 1916 Private Bow departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England along with many of the other Coo-ees, arriving in Egypt on the 11th April 1916.
On 16th April 1916 Private Bow was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel-El-Kebir, Egypt.
On 4th June 1916 Private Bow left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.
Private Bow served with the 4th Pioneer Battalion in France until on 20th September 1917 when Private Bow was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station with Malaria. On 27th September 1917 he was transferred to the 2nd Stationary Hospital at Abbeville, France, with a fissure.
On 2nd October 1917 he was placed aboard a Hospital Ship bound for England. He was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham, England with severe Haemorrhoids.
On 11th October 1917 Private Bow was discharged from Hospital and granted leave to report to the No. 1 Command depot at Sutton Veny, England, on 25th October 1917.
On 3rd November 1917 Private Bow was admitted to the Sutton Veny Military Hospital suffering Asthma. He was discharged to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny on 9th of November 1917.
On 4th December 1917 Private Bow was found by a Medical Board to have chronic bronchitis.
On 29th December 1917 Private Bow marched out to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.
On 30th January 1918 Private Bow commenced his return to Australia aboard the H.T. Euripides for medical discharge from Plymouth, England.
He arrived in Australia on 21st March 1918.
He was discharged medically unfit with chronic bronchitis at Sydney on 4th May 1918.
[1] NAA B2455, BOW C E