DOWLING, John Ware (1891-1968)He was born at Oakwood Station, Charleville, Queensland on 27 May 1891, the son of John Ware Dowling and Jessie nee Dodd. He was educated at Southport High School and then enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College in February 1910. His address at enrolment was Bywong, Gundaroo, NSW. His parents paid additional tuition fees for Gymnastics, Cadets and Boats. He was in the 1st Cricket XI in 1910. He also won the penultimate athletics prize in 1911, the Geelong College Cup. The College Register records him leaving in December 1910.
He gained pastoral experience on Bywong Station, Gundaroo, New South Wales, prior to his enlistment in the 8th Light Horse Regiment, 3rd Light Horse Brigade, on 31 October 1914. He embarked with his younger brother,
Charles Ware Dowling (1893-1967), in the Second Contingent on
HMAT A16 Star of Victoria on 25 February 1915, and served on Gallipoli, from where he was evacuated late in June suffering dysentery. He did not return to the Peninsula, instead transferring to the 1st Anzac Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps, in Palestine. He was promoted through the ranks, Lance Corporal on 5 January 1916, Corporal on 10 August 1916, 2nd Lieutenant on 3 January 1917, and Lieutenant on 7 May 1917. He returned to Australia on
HMT Dunluce Castle, embarking on 19 March 1919.
He died on 8 March 1968 at Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital, Queensland.
His father, John Ware Dowling (1857-1934) and brother,
Charles Ware Dowling (1893-1967), were also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p168 (citing Alexander Henderson, Early Pioneer Families of Victoria and Riverina (1936); Pegasus; National Archives).