Phillip Charles VOWLES

Constable Phillip Vowles deserted from the 61st Gloucestershire regiment in England before migrating to Australia and joining the Queensland Police in 1912. He was stationed at Woolloongabba until he joined the 9th Battalion as soon as war was declared. Lance Corporal Vowles embarked aboard the first convoy overseas the HMAT Omrah A5 to Egypt on 24 September 1914. The 9th Battalion was part of the 3rd Brigade working as the covering force to secure a beach head on Gallipoli and were the first to land at Anzac Cove in April 1915. At the end of July of 1915 sickness among the troops had become a serious concern. Vowels succumbed to illness on 8 September 1915 and was admitted to the Anazac hospital with influenza which quickly developed into dysentery and pneumonia. Phillip was transferred, first to Imbros and, when his condition worsened, to Netley Military Hospital in England. On 2 October, at the age of 29, Lance Corporal Vowles died from pneumonia and was buried at the Netley Military Cemetery.