An Original Batt.ManClaude is described as aged about 24 (he was only 20), 5'10" in height, medium build, complexion
nuggety, clean-shaven with dark curly hair and blue eyes. Very quiet man. Fond of fishing.
Eighteen years old when he enlisted on 7 October 1915 in the 13th Infantry, Claude's
occupation was as a Groom, although his mates passed the information that he used
to work for his uncle in a green-grocer's shop or was a porter at the Imperial Hotel.
Previous military service: Served 4 years in the 33rd and 24th Battalions, Australian Senior Cadet Corps, New South Wales.
Parents: Frederick William and Jane Campbell BOWER (nee Mooney), 4 Cooper Street, Paddington, New South Wales. Native of Armidale, New South Wales
Killed in Action 14 October 1917
Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium When he was killed, Claude was a Battalion Runner with H.Q. Signal Section. He was sent with a message by a Colonel at Battalion H.Q. and was blown to pieces @ 6 am when caught by a shell explosion near a pill-box
Terrible shelling was going on all the time and there was a shortage of stretcher-bearers ~ Pte. S. Rowe, March 1918, who knew Bower really well
Pte. T.S. Dwyer, 1818, reported that he went through Claude's pockets, removing his paybook, disc, private letters and pocket book, but couldn't find any chocolate, money or naughty French postcards.
Claude was buried where he fell, along with four others* who were killed by the same exploding shell. There is no known grave but Pte. L.P. Alexander said, when he gave his account of Bower's demise, (8 March 1918), that he could
point out the spot. Pte W.D. Hobday said he was buried at ?Leine Corner.
L.J. Rose who was in the burial detail said that Bower was buried in a small British cemetary and a
cross was put up on his grave. Claude was Roman Catholic.
Commemorated: The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 23), Belgium
The next year ~ 1918 ~ Fred & Jane Bower would be notified of the death of
another son:
Pte. William Eric Bower.References:
Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing
Enquiry Bureau Files, 1914-18 War
1DRL/0428
6 Private
Claude Bower
*Could someone hunt down the names of these four chaps.
