Trooper Lionel Fowler
1st Australian Light Horse
Service Number 175
Born: 10 October, 1892, Penrith, NSW
Died: 12 May 1915, Gallipoli, Turkey
Lionel Rupert Fowler was born in Mulgoa in 1892, the eldest son of John and Ethel Fowler (nee Murphy). After leaving school, Fowler joined the Luddenham Squadron of the Australian Light Horse. In 1913, he married Minnie Hore, daughter of A. Hore of Ravenswood, Wallacia. Fowler was known as a good shot and was described as being a ‘well-known and popular young man who participated in athletic meetings in the district and was actively involved in church activities’. At the outbreak of war, Lionel was working in the Scone district (NSW) and had transferred to the Scone Light Horse Regiment.
Fowler, one of the first to volunteer for service at the front, was one of 25 troopers who were presented with a horse each by the residents of the Scone district. He left Australia on 20 October 1914 with the first contingent of Light Horse aboard the transport ship A16 Star of Victoria which disembarked in Egypt for further training. The Light Horse, initially
considered unsuitable for the Gallipoli operation, was deployed on the peninsula on 12 May 1915. Before departing for the peninsula, Fowler developed appendicitis. He was admitted to the 1st General Hospital at Heliopolis and died on 12 May 1915.
Memorial Details:
- Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
- St Andrews Anglican Church, Wallacia
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia: B2455, FOWLER L R
- Australian War Memorial First World War Nominal Roll
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
- Penrith City Library Biography files
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