Private John William Dowling

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

John William Dowling was born on 9^th December 1889 in Dorking, Surrey to labourer John and Harriet.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Moleside in Dorking. John was working as a labourer and Harriet was looking after their children Lucy, Florence and John.

On 16^th October 1898 John Dowling started at St Martin’s Church of England School in Dorking. Previously he attended Pixham School. He left St Martin’s school on 27^th September 1901.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family were still living at Moleside in Dorking. John was working as a labourer in a coal yard and Harriet was looking after their children: Florence, John, Alice, Harriet and Edith.

On 3^rd September 1901 John was admitted into the Dorking British School. At the time of his admission the family lived at Pixham Lane.

At the time of the 1911, John William´s family lived at 3 Mint Gardens in Dorking. John was working as a labourer on an Estate and Harriet was at home. The household further comprised of their daughter Edith. Harriet stated that she had given birth to seven children. The accomodation had four rooms.

At the time of the 1911 Census, John was working as an odd man for licensed victualler Anne Greaves, at the Punch Bowl pub, Reigate Road in Dorking.

John Dowling enlisted on 30^th July 1915 in Brisbane, Queensland into the 6^th Reinforcement, of the 26^th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. He was a Private with regimental number 2585.

At the time of his enlistment he was working as a labourer. He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He had two moles on his right cheek. His next of kin was his father John Dowling of 3 Mint Gardens in Dorking.

On 21^st October 1915 he embarked on HMAT Seang Bee from Brisbane, Australia to Egypt. In Egypt, he became part of the 7^th Training Battalion at Zeitoun. On 1^st March 1916, he joined the 12^th Battalion at Serapeum Railhead Camp.

On 5^th March 1916, he became sick with a venereal disease and was admitted into the 1^st Australian Field Ambulance and transferred into the 1^st Australian Casualty Clearing Station. The next day he was transferred by hospital train into the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Abbassia, Cairo. He was discharged on 13^th March and moved to the Overseas Base at Ghezireh, near Cairo. On 2^nd April 1916 he was transferred from the 12^th Battalion and joined the 52^nd Battalion at Serapeum, Egypt. On 5^th June 1916 John embarked with the 52^nd Battalion on the troopship Ivernia from Alexandria to join the BEF in France. On 12^th June 1916 he disembarked to Marseilles in France. John was wounded in an action on 3rd or 4^th September 1916 in France.

On 3^rd September 1916, John was admitted to the 1^st Canadian Field Ambulance with a head injury. On 4^th September he was transferred and admitted into the 8^th General Hospital in Rouen, France. On 6^th September 1916, he was further transferred into the 2^nd Convalescents Depot. On 11^th of September 1916, John William marched into the 4^th Australian Divisional Depot in Etaples. On 30^th September 1916, he rejoined the 52^nd Battalion in France.

On 18^th October 1917, he was killed in an action during the 3^rd Battle of Ypres in Belgium.

John Dowling is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium on panels 7-17-23-25-27-29-31.

He did not make a will and had no personal effects in his kit. His father received John’s British War and Victory medals and the 1914/15 Star. He also received the Memorial Scroll, Memorial Plaque and a booklet ´Where the Australians Rest.´

Dowling Family History

John’s father John Lewis Dowling was born on 6^th November of 1853 in Leatherhead, Surrey to boot maker William, born about 1822 in Dorking and Harriet, born about 1823 at St Giles, London. John snr was baptised on 10^th October 1858 at St Martin’s church in Dorking. At the time of the baptism, the family lived at Cotmandene, Dorking and William was working as a shoemaker. His mother Harriet Lynch was born on 6^th August 1857 in Dorking to labourer Henry and Jane. Harriet was baptised on 17^th January 1858 at St Paul’s church in Dorking. At the time of the baptism the family lived at Butter Hill in Dorking. John and Harriet married in the 1^st quarter of 1884 in Dorking, Surrey.

John had five known siblings: Lucy, born about 1882; Florence, born about 1888; Alice born about 1893; Harriet born about 1895 and Edith born about 1897, all in Dorking.

Born	Dorking, Surrey
Son of	John Lewis and Harriet Dowling (nee Lynch) of 3 Mint Gardens, Dorking
Enlisted	Brisbane, Queensland
Regiment	52nd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Number	2585
Date of Death	18th October 1917
Place of Death	Ypres, Belguim
Cause of Death	Killed in Action
Age	18
Memorial	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial