FRANCIS DOWDLE

Rifleman Francis Edward Dowdle was born at Papanui on 1 July 1890. He was educated at Belfast School and after leaving school he worked on his father's farm at Clarkville, the other side of the Waimakariri River from Belfast. He enlisted in November 1915 and was posted to D Company of the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. His draft of reinforcements left in time to join the remainder of the newly-formed New Zealand Division in Egypt. The Division transferred to France, where he contrac teed influenza. Francis Dowdle's first experience of active service came in August 1916, holding a section of the front line called "The Mushroom" near Armentieres in northern France. He took part in the Division's initial attack on Flers on 15 September, but was wounded in the abdomen the next day and died of his wounds a day later at the 38th Casualty Clearing Station. He was buried at the Heilly Station Cemetery, which developed about the 38th Casualty Clearing Station near Mericourt-L'Abbe on the Somme in France. He is commemorated on his parents' headstone in St Paul's Churchyard in Papanui (see below).

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