SPOWART, Eric Warren (1899-1976)
SPOWART, Eric Warren (1899-1976)
Eric Warren Spowart was born on 2 May 1899, the son of Thomas Spowart and Catherine Margaret nee Annan.
After attending Ashby State School he became a day student at Geelong College in February 1912, leaving in December 1914. His address at the time of enrolment was 192 Autumn Street, Geelong West.
During World War I, he served in the 64th Battalion (AMP) before enlisting (No. 61212) in 6 Battalion with the 10th (Victorian) Reinforcements on 13 May 1918. He embarked on 31 August 1918 on HMAT A37 Barambah, and was at Salisbury Plain in January 1919. He returned to Australia, embarking on 24 November 1919.
Several of Eric Spowart's letters to his parents were published in the Geelong Advertiser. Two of the letters contrast his trip home. The first in November 1918 read:
'Mr. Thos. and Mrs. Spowart, of Upper Autumn Street, Geelong West are in receipt of a letter from Pte Eric Spowart from Durban. The boys were not allowed to land at Capetown owing to the influenza epidemic.
At Durban they had a great time riding about on the rickshaws. ... '
In January 1919 the Advertiser reported a very different tale:
'Writing to his parents from Salisbury Plains, states that on the 'Barambah' there was much criticism about the state of the boat. Between Capetown and the arrival tbere were 24 deaths, and 30 invalids were left at Sierra Leone. An average of 75 per cent, of the men were attacked with pneumonic influenza - He felt ill when at Sierra Leone, but owing to the coolies refusing to load the vessel, the soldiers had to fill the coal bunkers. He was one of those detailed tor the work, which was hard, and made the perspiration pour out to such an extent that it knocked all the squeamishness from him. The 'Britannia' escorted the transport for some distance then left, and the Barambah soon fell victim to an enemy's torpedo. Pte Spowart did not expect to be kept long at Salisbury Plains before being returned to Australia.'
In 1923, Eric was working at the Geelong branch of the Savings Bank.
Eric died on 3 September 1976.
Eric Warren Spowart was born on 2 May 1899, the son of Thomas Spowart and Catherine Margaret nee Annan.
After attending Ashby State School he became a day student at Geelong College in February 1912, leaving in December 1914. His address at the time of enrolment was 192 Autumn Street, Geelong West.
During World War I, he served in the 64th Battalion (AMP) before enlisting (No. 61212) in 6 Battalion with the 10th (Victorian) Reinforcements on 13 May 1918. He embarked on 31 August 1918 on HMAT A37 Barambah, and was at Salisbury Plain in January 1919. He returned to Australia, embarking on 24 November 1919.
Several of Eric Spowart's letters to his parents were published in the Geelong Advertiser. Two of the letters contrast his trip home. The first in November 1918 read:
'Mr. Thos. and Mrs. Spowart, of Upper Autumn Street, Geelong West are in receipt of a letter from Pte Eric Spowart from Durban. The boys were not allowed to land at Capetown owing to the influenza epidemic.
At Durban they had a great time riding about on the rickshaws. ... '
In January 1919 the Advertiser reported a very different tale:
'Writing to his parents from Salisbury Plains, states that on the 'Barambah' there was much criticism about the state of the boat. Between Capetown and the arrival tbere were 24 deaths, and 30 invalids were left at Sierra Leone. An average of 75 per cent, of the men were attacked with pneumonic influenza - He felt ill when at Sierra Leone, but owing to the coolies refusing to load the vessel, the soldiers had to fill the coal bunkers. He was one of those detailed tor the work, which was hard, and made the perspiration pour out to such an extent that it knocked all the squeamishness from him. The 'Britannia' escorted the transport for some distance then left, and the Barambah soon fell victim to an enemy's torpedo. Pte Spowart did not expect to be kept long at Salisbury Plains before being returned to Australia.'
In 1923, Eric was working at the Geelong branch of the Savings Bank.
Eric died on 3 September 1976.
Source
Geelong Advertiser 16 November 1918 p4; Geelong Advertiser 25 January 1919 p7; Geelong Advertiser 10 October 1923 p3; ‘Geelong Collegians at the Great War’ compiled by James Affleck. p 317 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives).