Studio portrait of Charles Victor Bowers

Studio portrait of 4158 Private (Pte) Charles Victor Bowers, 10th reinforcements, 31st Battalion. A labourer prior to enlisting, An Orphan by 1916, Pte Bowers was working as a labourer when he enlisted in Charters Towers, Queensland at 18 years of age. He was one of three brothers who served in the same battalion. Pte Bowers embarked from Brisbane on 21 October 1916 aboard HMAT Boonah. He encountered various difficulties during his service. On the journey to England, he was censured for 'Disobeying in such a manner as to show a willful defiance of authority, a command given personally by his superior officer'. During 1917 the three brothers were reported as absent without leave from their unit from 4-14 September 1917 for which they were punished with 10 days detention and the forfeiture of 20 days pay each. Pte Bowers also suffered from fits which caused him to be hospitalised several times and as a result he did not see action despite serving in England and France until 1918. He returned to Australia aboard the British Hospital Ship Dunluce Castle and was discharged on 24 April 1918 due to debility. 4265 Pte Robert Bowers was invalided to England on 24 August 1918 and returned to Australia where he was discharged on 1 April 1919 (See also P10439.002). 4264 Pte Albert John Llewellyn Bowers died of influenza in France on 18 February 1919 (See also P10439.001).