Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Charles Alfred Bowring was born on 12 July 1882 at Rangiora, the third son James and Cassandra (née Jury) Bowring.Charles married Nellie Warner on 29 April 1915 at Timaru. The enlistment of C. A. Bowring, a labourer, Timaru, was received at the Defence Office, Timaru, on 8 March 1917. A ploughman at Maungati, when he enlisted, single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next- of-kin – Mrs Amy Armstrong, Moore Street, Ashburton. The South Canterbury quota of the 30th Reinforcement consisting of 58 men, left Timaru on 28 May 1917, but not before they had been given a very hearty send-off at the Drill Shed, and at the Strathallan Street crossing. “The men appeared in the best of spirits,” as they were put through some elementary drill movements. They were addressed by the Mayor and by the Rev. J. H. Rogers. No country in the world possessed such a free Constitution as New Zealand, and in a spirit of determination to uphold it and all that made life worth living, they were going forth to gain the mastery over the enemy, said the Mayor. On this noble mission he wished them luck and a safe return. In going away they would take with them the love, the care and affection of many who would watch anxiously for news of them, and who would ever be solicitous of their welfare, said the Rev. Rogers. Then, headed by the 2nd (S.C.) Regimental Band, they moved off to the station. The train steamed out followed by the cheers of the crowd, and the answering shouts of the departing soldiers. Among the recruits was C. A. Bowring. He named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Nellie Bowring, care of W. Warner, 47 Wallace Street, Wellington. Private C. A. Bowring embarked with the Otago Infantry Regiment of the 28th Reinforcements, leaving for Plymouth, England by the “Uimaroa” on 26 July 1917. Returning Draft No. 175, which was expected to arrive in September 1918, brought home C. A. Bowring, 55720. After the war Charles and Nellie lived at Masterton, where they divorced in 1929. Charles Alfred Bowring died on 2 September 1957 at Greytown, aged 75. He was buried in the Greytown Cemetery, a serices plaque marking his grave. A younger brother, Frederick John Bowring, also served in the war with the New Zealand Forces.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [05 October 2021]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [12 October 2021]; Timaru Herald, 9 March 1917, 29 May 1917, NZ Times, 9 September 1918 (Papers Past) [04, 08 & 12 October 2021]; Greytown Cemetery headstone transcription [12 October 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.