Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, November 1916

Cowan, Gerard Henderson (Lieutenant, b.1895-d.1919)

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Places	Africa: South Africa, Natal, Durban Africa: West Africa, Senegal, Dakar Africa: West Africa, Sierra Leone Europe: Portugal Europe: United Kingdom, England Europe: United Kingdom, England, Devon, Plymouth Europe: United Kingdom, England, Wiltshire, Salisbury Oceania: Australia, Western Australia, Fremantle Oceans: Indian Ocean
Accession Number	AWM2019.22.254
Collection number	3DRL/3660
Collection type	Digitised Collection
Record type	Item
Item count	1
Object type	Diary
Physical description	23 Image/s captured
Maker	Cowan, Gerard Henderson
Place made	At sea, South Africa
Date made	1916
Conflict	First World War, 1914-1918
Source credit to	This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government.

Description

Diary relating to the First World War service of 6733 Private Gerard Henderson Cowan, 11 Australian Infantry Battalion.

This diary, written by Cowan between 11-28 November 1916, contains details of his embarkation aboard the HMAS Argyleshire. Some of his experiences included sea sickness, spectating sports matches, physical training, regular parades and drills, seeing interesting marine life, attending a concert, being on guard duty, sleeping on deck, and sightseeing at Durban, South Africa. The last entry in this diary ends abruptly but is continued Cowan’s next diary (see AWM2019.22.255).

This diary also contains a list of men in Number 1 Mess on the HMAS Argyleshire, of which Cowan was a part. Gerard Henderson Cowan joined the Australian Flying Corps and became a pilot in 1918, but died of illness on 22 February 1919.