DOWLING, William Graeme Walter (1924-2008)

Modified on Mon, 03 Oct 2016 20:09 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of War - World War II

'Bill' Dowling (Dowling Family)

DOWLING, William Graeme Walter (1924-2008)

William Graeme Walter Dowling, the son of Graeme Dowling and Gladys Brenda nee Norman was born at Ballarat on 5 October and attended Ballarat College before entering Geelong College as a boarder from 1940 to 1941. In his final year he rowed in the 3rd Rowing VIII and 2nd Football XVIII.

On leaving school he worked for a short time for the family firm, Crawford Dowling in Ballarat, then enlisted in the RAN on 4 November 1942, and served as PM5251 AB WGW Dowling on HMA Ships Hobart (Modified Leander Class Light Cruiser), Launceston (Armidale Class Patrol Boat), Gawler (Fremantle Class Patrol Boat) and Bingara (Anti-Submarine Escort). Bill was discharged on 17 May 1946. He died at Ballarat on 6 July 2008.

Sources: James Affleck, Geelong Collegians’ at World War II; Iris Nesdale, Spin me a Dit! Tales of the Royal Australian Navy. OGC 1939.