The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Cowie
First Name:
Harold John
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX8641
Classification:
Driver
Company:
‘B’ Company, No. 9 Platoon
Enlisted:
18.10.1940
Discharged:
23.01.1946
DOB:
17.10.1914
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
James Cowie
Mothers's Name:
Florence Amelia Cowie
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Truck Driver
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Thompson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp), River Valley Road, Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘F’ Force Thailand
Camps Thailand:
Shimo Sonkurai, Sime Road Camp, Changi Gaol Camp
POW#:
3/7415 and 13618
Return Details 1945:
Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydney-Melbourne by troop train, Melbourne-Perth, HMT Strathmore

General Description

Harold Cowie and Trevor James. Launceston - 1990
Harold Cowie and Trevor James. Launceston – 1990

 

Cowie Parker James Anderton

 

Anderton Cowie James

Reunion East - Worth, Kemp,Cowie, James and Badock.
Reunion East – Worth, Kemp,Cowie, James and Badock.

 

Harold Cowie at the Sandakan Service, Boyup Brook.
Harold Cowie at the Sandakan Service, Boyup Brook, 23 August 1991 Original Memorial for Sandakan POWs.  The Service was believed to be held at the property of Ted McLaughlin, who had originally considered the idea of a Sandakan Memorial.  An unexpected large number of former POWs and 2/4th men and their wives attended the first service.  Thereafter, the annual service attracted families, former POWs to attend

 

Cowie, Castles, McGhee – 1985 Bunbury Re-union

 

 

Read Harold’s list of ‘F’ Force

Cowie, Harold’s list of F Force

 

 

Whilst in Singapore Harold was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force Thailand.  Harold departing by rail about 20 April 1943 to Thailand.

Please read about ‘F’ Force

Harold was in hospital at Sonkurai 24 – 28th Sept 1943, and Shimo Sonkurai Hospital from 28 May to 23rd June 1943.  He was one of the fortunate or lucky men who survived working with F Force on the Burma Thai Railway and returned to Singapore.  He was recovered from Changi Camp on 4 September 1945.

Kalgoorlie Miner, July 1947.

After the war Harold moved to Kalgoorlie where he worked with his brother in a business.

Harold died at end of 1995 and at the time was a Committeeman of the 2/4th.

 

Glad Cowie celebrating her 95th birthday with the 2/4th MGB Committee, November 2018.  Glad enjoys good health and attends most monthly Committee Meetings.
We wish Glad our best wishes!

 

Camp Locations:

  • Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
  • River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Sime Road Camp - Singapore
  • Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp) - Singapore
  • Shimo Sonkurai, 288k - Thailand
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