BOWD, Henry William

Henry was born at Vegetable Creek (Emmaville) in 1884, the eldest child of William and Mary Bowd. The family moved to Warialda in 1894 and later lived at ‘Killarney’, Coolatai NSW. Henry was a thirty one year old Articled Law Clerk at Inverell when he enlisted in July 1915. He applied for a commission in the AIF and was made 2nd Lieutenant in December.

With the 6th Light Horse Regiment he sailed for Egypt in March 1916. A few months later, Henry was attached to the Australian Flying Corps for aerial observation instruction. By the end of that year he had been appointed a Flying Officer.

Known as ‘a cool, fearless pilot’ and very popular with his mates, he was killed in November 1917 whilst testing a plane at Cairo. The plane broke apart, burst into flames and although Henry escaped, he fell to the ground and was killed. Lieutenant Henry Bowd was buried at Cairo War Cemetery, Egypt.

Prior to the War he had been a keen Rugby Union player at Inverell. His name is inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll and Cenotaph. In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell.

Photo: Australian War Memorial Image PO1034.040