Eric Lacy Vowles

Brigadier Eric Lacy Vowles, MC (13 July 1893 – 28 September 1977) was an Australian soldier who served during the First World War and Second World War.

Eric Lacy Vowles
Born(1893-07-13)13 July 1893
Kew, Victoria
Died28 September 1977(1977-09-28) (aged 84)
Buried
Garden of Remembrance, Pasadena, South Australia
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
RankBrigadier
Battles/warsFirst World War

Vowels served at Gallipoli, in France, Palestine,[1] and New Guinea.

As its commandant for four years, he positioned RMC Duntroon for post war training.[2] He retired from the Army on 13 June 1949.[2]

Early life and education

Vowels was born on 13 July 1893,[2] the second son of Thomas Vowles and Mary, née Lacy.

His mother died on 18 May 1908.[3] Thomas Vowles was post master at Perth and later pay master at Melbourne GPO.[4]

Vowles was born at Melbourne, Victoria.[2] He was educated at Scots [Scotch] College, Western Australia.[1]

His older brother, Alan, was also a decorated officer.[5]

Vowles studied engineering before enlisting and was one of the original students in 1911[1] at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, graduating 28th in August 1914.[2] Vowels was appointed as Lieutenant in November 1914.[6]

As a cadet at RMC Duntroon, he designed the Corps of Staff Cadets badge.[2]

Adult life

Vowels and his wife had two children,[7] a son Robert, and a daughter Prudence,[lower-alpha 1] a librarian who had worked for a time at the RMC Duntroon library.[9]

Career

WWI

Vowles was allocated to the 9th Battery of the 1st Division at Gallipoli, directing naval guns[lower-alpha 2] during the landing.[2]

After evacuation to Egypt he was transferred to the 5th Division and in June 1916 saw action in the Battle of Fromelles. In August 1917 he took command of 54 Battery of the 5th Division.[2] In 1916 Vowles was described as .. this officer knows his work, is cool and collected under fire .. by his commanding officer.[5]

Major Vowels was wounded in December 1917,[10] by gassing, and evacuated to England.[2]

From late 1918 to February 1919 Vowles served with the Royal Horse Artillery in Palestine.[2]

Inter bella

Vowels was an instructor in artillery at RMC Duntroon[1] until February 1920.[2]

He attended Camberly Staff College, England[1] during 1926–27.[2]

Transferred from Keswick, Adelaide, Fourth Military District South Australia,[11] to Brisbane July 1938.[12] Lieutenant Colonel Vowels was appointed as General Staff Officer of the 11th Mixed Brigade in charge of training operations in Queensland.[1]

Transferred from First Military District Queensland to Director of Military Art and second in command RMC Duntroon February 1939.[11]

Promoted to Colonel March 1940.[13]

WWII

Director of Military Training at AHQ from November 1939 to January 1942.[2]

Vowles commenced as Commandant 6th Military District January 1942,[14] Tasmanian Forces.[15]

Vowles was re-appointed Temporary Brigadier July 1942.[16]

During 1943-44 he commanded 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, and two base areas in New Guinea.[2]

RMC Duntroon

In March 1945 he became commandant RMC Duntroon, which included the Army School of Civil Affairs, a position he held until his retirement in 1949.[2]

Vowles took the RMC from two year courses to three year courses to four year courses.[2]

Re-appointed Temporary Brigadier February 1946.[17]

During Vowles' tenure RMC Duntroon moved to educate officers to a university degree standard.[18]

There was some public concern that RMC Duntroon was not sufficiently up-to-date, but Vowles was considered to be .. fully seized with the vital importance of keeping Duntroon's progress well abreast of modern trends ...[19]

Vowles espoused broader scientific training for atomic warfare for Australian Army officers.[20]

He lobbied for a dedicated library building, the lack of which was impeding the library's growth, and for improved dental services.[21]

Awards and recognition

Notes
  1. known as Prue.[8]
  2. was one of three RMC graduates doing so

References
  1. "MILITARY IN QUEENSLAND". Daily Mercury. Vol. 72, no. 178. Queensland, Australia. 28 July 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "The First Class" (PDF). Newsletter. The Duntroon Society. December 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  3. "Family Notices". The West Australian. Vol. XXIV, no. 6, 912. Western Australia. 19 May 1908. p. 1. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Mr. Thomas Vowles". The Age. No. 26, 563. Victoria, Australia. 5 June 1940. p. 10. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "BRAVERY UNDER FIRE". The Herald. No. 12, 583. Victoria, Australia. 29 September 1916. p. 1. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "PERSONAL". Observer. Vol. LXXI, no. 5, 517. South Australia. 28 November 1914. p. 29. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "COMMANDANT'S FAMILY". The Mercury. Vol. CLV, no. 22, 203. Tasmania, Australia. 27 January 1942. p. 5. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "No Title". The News. Vol. 52, no. 8, 031. South Australia. 3 May 1949. p. 13. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Arriving here with son". The News. Vol. 52, no. 7, 979. South Australia. 2 March 1949. p. 12. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION". Western Argus. Vol. 22, no. 5046. Western Australia. 11 December 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "NEW DIRECTOR OF MILITARY ART". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 14 February 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Farewell Party To Col. E. L. Vowles". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 30 June 1938. p. 7. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "AUSTRALIAN STAFF CORPS". The West Australian. Vol. 56, no. 16, 766. Western Australia. 29 March 1940. p. 15. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Brigadier Manchester Farewelled". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 16 January 1942. p. 5. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "BRIGADIER AND INVALID". The Mercury. Vol. CLVII, no. 22, 535. Tasmania, Australia. 20 February 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "PROMOTION OF 8 ARMY OFFICERS". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 29, 920. Victoria, Australia. 17 July 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 34. 21 February 1946. p. 409. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. "PLANNING A NEW DUNTROON". The Canberra Times. Vol. 21, no. 6, 073. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 September 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. "Duntroon Lags Behind The Atomic Age". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 043. New South Wales, Australia. 31 January 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. "ATOM WAR TRAINING FOR AUST. OFFICERS". Maryborough Chronicle. No. 23, 689. Queensland, Australia. 15 January 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. "DUNTROON STILL LACKS LIBRARY STATES REPORT". The Canberra Times. Vol. 24, no. 6, 850. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 March 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 12 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. "Coronation Pageantry in Schools, Page 21". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 12 May 1937. p. 18. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.

Further reading
  • A sample of archived newspaper articles via TROVE.
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