Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Harry Overton Bowron was born on 9 May 1876 at Fernside, Canterbury, the fourth son of George and Sidney Mary (née Martin) Bowron. George and Sidney who married in 1866 in New Zealand had two daughters followed by six sons. Harry was educated at Ashley Bank School. By at least 1905, Harry was a shepherd at Smithfield, Timaru. He was a stock buyer at St Andrews in 1911. He was a representative of Sims, Cooper, and Company, residing at the Empire Hotel, Timaru, when he was listed on the 1916 Reserve Rolls. In February 1917 his name was drawn in the fourth ballot. Medically examined at Timaru on 24 February, he enlisted that same day. An export buyer and of Church of England affiliation, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Adelaide Ruby Bowron, 13 Stratford Street, Fendalton, Christchurch. He had married Adelaide Ruby Phillips (Ruby) on 6 March 1917 at Fendalton, Christchurch. Appealing his call-up in March as he was the local head of the firm of Sims, Cooper and Company, he was allowed until 4 April.

H. O. Bowron was listed with the men belonging to the South Canterbury Military District who left for camp on 11 April 1917. Private H. O. Bowron embarked with the Wellington Infantry Regiment of the 28th Reinforcements, departing for Plymouth, England per the “Waitemata” on 24 July 1917. Embarking at Liverpool on 2 December 1918, he returned to New Zealand per the “Maunganui” (Draft 203). His intended address was care of sims, Cooper and Company, Timaru. He was discharged on 6 February 1919, no longer physically fit for war service (myalgia), and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Harry and Ruby resided at Timaru until 1926 when he was transferred to Victoria, Australia to manage Deanside Estate. Two children were born at Timaru – Robin Overton Bowron in 1920 and Margaret Overton Bowron in 1922, and probably John Overton Bowron in 1926. Harry Overton Bowron died on 7 August 1935 at his residence, “Deanside”, Rockbank, Victoria, aged 59 years. He was buried at Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, Victoria.

“Word was received by the local office of Messrs Sims Cooper and Co., yesterday, of the death in Victoria of Mr H. O. Bowron, who was well-known to the farming community of South Canterbury over a period of years as head stock buyer for Messrs Sims Cooper and Co. Mr Bowron resided in South Canterbury for a long time, and by his genial personality and integrity made himself highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. He first joined the firm at St. Andrews in 1905, and represented it there until 1912, when he moved to Timaru, and took charge of the firm’s operations in South Canterbury. Mr Bowron visited Australia each year for 20 years in the course of business, and became very widely known there also as an exceptional judge of fat stock. In 1926 he retired from buying and was transferred permanently to Australia, where he took over the management of the Deanside Estate, at Rockland, Victoria, on behalf of the firm, and he there founded and built up a Border Leicester stud flock which to-day is one of the biggest and best known flocks of that breed in Australia. Mr Bowron served with the N.Z.E.F., in France in 1917 and 1918. He leaves a widow and three children.” [Timaru Herald, 8 August 1935.]

Air Cadet Robin Overton Bowron, the elder son of Harry and Ruby, was killed in an aeroplane crash on 19 March 1940, aged 19 years. This was deemed a war death. He was cremated at Springvale Crematorium, where his mother was cremated when she died in 1971. John Overton Bowron, the younger son, was engaged to a Christchurch girl in 1956.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 February 2025]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [23 February 2025]; School Admission record (Canterbury Branch NZSG) [23 February 2025]; Press, 10 March 1916, 12 August 1935, 23 March 1940, 22 December 1956, Timaru Herald, 14 February 1917, 16 March 1917, 10 April 1917, 8 August 1935 [x 2] (Papers Past) [07 January 2015; 26 February 2025]; Cemetery record (Find A Grave) [26 February 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.