Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Murray Gow, known as Jack, was born on 28 December 1883, in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the third son of John Gow and Jane (née Johnston) Gow, it appears. He was baptised on 2 March 1884 at Plantation Church, Glasgow. George Gow, the eldest of John and Jane was born in about 1879 at Wigtown. By 1881 the little family was living in Govan, Lanarkshire. George was followed by five brothers - Walter Gow born in May 1881 at Govan, John M. Gow (John Murray Gow) born in about 1883, James Johnston Gow born in about 1885, Allan C. Gow born in about 1887, William Brownlee Gow born in about 1890, and three sisters - Helen J. Gow born in about 1890, Eliza A. Gow born in about 1892, and Caroline E. Gow born in about 1898. All were born in Glasgow, and all were at home in Glasgow in 1901. John M. was a scholar in 1891 and an apprentice pattern maker in 1901.

By 1914 John Murray Gow was living in High Street, Timaru, a garage attendant. Jack was another of those fine young men living far from home who responded to the call early in the war, enlisting at Trentham on 29 December 1914. Both parents were deceased; his brother George Gow, of Harbour Road, Wigtown, Scotland, was named as his next-of-kin. John was living in Timaru with Mrs Bell at 26 High Street and working as an engineer for Shaw Savill and Co. He had been medically examined on 8 December. Standing at 5 feet 1¾ inches and weighing 138 pounds, with a chest measurement of 34-36½ inches, he had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. His teeth were good (false). He was free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health.

He left New Zealand's shores on 14 February 1915, never to return here or to his native Scotland. The 3rd Reinforcements and the Maori Contingent paraded for inspection at Newtown Park on the afternoon of 13 February. As they formed u they made an impression on the crowd gathered. When the Governor (Lord Liverpool) appeared upon the scene the assembled troops came to the Royal salute, the Union Jack was unfurled, and the massed bands played the first six bars of the National Anthem. The troops then marched through the city where thousands of spectators cheered them frequently. Private J. M. Gow embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington per the “Maunganui” on 14 February 1915. On 8 July 1915 he was sent to hospital at Gallipoli, sick. The following day he was admitted to the Stationary Hospital at Mudros with diarrhoea. On 14 July he was dangerously ill with enteric fever, and on 15 July 1915 at Mudros, he succumbed to the disease. He was interred at the East Mudros Military Cemetery at Lemnos, Greece. Mrs J. Muir of Cain Street, Timaru, received word of his death almost three months later, in October 1915. Indeed, it was not until October that record of his death was published in the newspapers. John was one of three men at the Dardanelles whose deaths of enteric were reported in that casualty list. John was well known in Timaru.

His medals - 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal - were to be sent in 1922 to Mr George Gow at 21 Hayfield St, Glasgow, later of Auchentoshan Distillery, Dalmuir, near Glasgow. And brother George acknowledged receipt of the memorial plaque in July 1923. The Scroll had been sent in July 1921. There was no one within the scope of the Act who was entitled to any Gratuity following John's decease. His effects were to be sent to Geo Gow, C/o Mrs McDermid, 32 Clelland St, Glasgow, Scotland, but this information is crossed out. Miss (Mrs) J. Muir, Cain Street, Timaru, was also named to be advised, maybe as nearest relative or friend in New Zealand. A note was added that she was not found at this address. John and Mary Muir were indeed living on Cain Street in 1914. Probate of his Will was granted to the Public Trustee in Wellington in 1917. There was communication between the Public Trustee and John’s sister Caroline and brother George. A letter dated 29/12/14 was written to George from ‘Your Aff Bro, Jack’, under address – Pte John M. Gow, 2nd Canterbury Inf (3rd Reinforcement), New Zealand, Main Expeditionary Force, High Commissioner London. Information in this letter was deemed to constitute a validly executed will. “Dear George, I now take time to write you a few lines & let you know how I am getting along. I am in Camp at a place they call Trentham twenty miles from Wellington. We get 4/- a day till the 14th Jun 1915 then 5/- a day right on till the war is finished. We all make our will before embarking on the troopship. I will make it over to Carrie & it will do the four of you. But I earnestly hope I will come back all well. I am going to get a Photo when I get my uniform & send one on. As far as we hear just now Egypt is the place we are going to. But we are not sure yet. I am going to make arrangements when I go back to Timaru for a few days before leaving about sending my tools & clothes home to Wigtown. I have been three weeks in Camp now & getting along …… & the best of chums. They are seven in each tent. I am in the Military Police, fourteen of us in all. We had a grand Christmas dinner & general leave for the whole camp. I was on duty on Christmas day in Wellington. It has to be the same on New Year’s day. Well George you need not send any more papers or letters to New Zealand. If you send them on to the above address I thing [sic] it will get me. I have no idea how we will go as everything is keep quite [sic]. Well George I will draw to a close now as I have not much more to say at present. I will send you more word before I go. Tell Carrie, Jeannie & Annie to look after themselves as I hope to have a safe return & see you all again. If you don’t hear anything about me after I leave writ to Timaru they will have a better chance of hearing than you. I will close now George. Hoping this finds you all in the best of health as it leaves me the same.” What a poignant letter, all the more so in light of Jack’s fate. The property of John Murray Gow amounted to £30 17 – (Military pay).

John Murray Gow is remembered on the Timaru Memorial Wall and the Chalmers Church Honour Roll. A portrait of John Murray Gow is printed in “Onward: Portraits of the NZEF” Vol. 1. A photo in uniform is also attached to his findagrave record.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [15 September 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5539 0046366) [30 March 2014]; CWGC [15 September 2013]; Evening Post, 13 February 1915, Timaru Herald, 9 October 1915, Otago Daily Times, 19 July 1915, 11 October 1915, New Zealand Herald, 19 July 1915, Press, 11 October 1915, Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 October 1915, Evening Star, 12 October 1915 (Papers Past) [15 September 2013; 5 November 2013; 21 February 2015; 16 June 2026]; census returns 1891, 1901 Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland (ancestry.com.au) [15 September 2013]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [2013]; NZ Death Indexes (DIA historical records) [2013]; Probate record (Family Search/Archives NZ) [01 May 2015]; Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol 1 (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG); Scotland Baptism record (Family Search) [16 June 2026]

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

TS