Ralph FOWLER

Regimental number23/1051
Date of birth27 March 1894
Place of birthBootle, Liverpool, England
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
AddressMrs D Fowler, c/o Mrs Robertson, Amesbury Street, Palmerston North
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 7.5"
Weight164 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs E Fowler, 33 Oregon Street, Bootle, Liverpool, England
Previous military serviceServed in 7th Bn, King's Liverpool Regiment, Territorial Force; resigned on leaving the country.
Enlistment date29 May 1915
Rank on embarkationRifleman
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Maunganui on 10 October 1915
Final rankRifleman
Final unitNew Zealand Rifle Brigade
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 8 August 1919
Discharge date21 October 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 10 October 1915; disembarked Suez, 15 November 1915, and appointed Cook.

Embarked for Matruh, 19 December 1915; disembarked Alexandria, 15 February 1916.

Admitetd to hospital, Moascar, 6 March 1916; rejoined unit, 18 March 1916.

Ceased duties as Cook, 6 March 1916.

Appointed Cook, 22 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, France, 6 April 1916.

Relinquished appointment as Cook, 10 October 1916.

Found guilty, Morbecque, 12 May 1916, of being on licensed premises after hours: deprived of 1 day's pay.

Found guilty, 22 March 1917, of failing to comply with Routine Order: deprived of 1 day's pay.

Appointed Cook, 5 April 1917; relinquished appointment as Cook, 18 April 1917.

Wounded in action, 20 June 1917 (multiple gun shot wounds, hand and left thigh); admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 21 June 1917, and transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to 13th General Hospital, 29 June 1917; to England, 4 July 1917, and admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames; under surveillance for venereal disease, 24 October 1918; transferred to NZ VD Section, 28 October 1918; discharged to VD Convalescent Section, Codford, 14 December 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board SS 'Tanui', 8 August 1919; disembarked Wellington, 21 September 1919; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in action: left thigh amputated), 21 October 1919.

War service: 4 years 146 days (of which 3 years 350 days were abroad)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: D Company/1st NZRB
Date of death18 May 1939 Christchurch
Age at death45
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805

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