Eric Lacy Vowles Explained

Eric Lacy Vowles
Birth Date:13 July 1893
Birth Place:Kew, Victoria
Placeofburial:Garden of Remembrance, Pasadena, South Australia
Allegiance:Australia
Branch:Australian Army
Rank:Brigadier
Battles:First World War
Awards:Silver Medal of Military Valour (Italy)

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

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

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

Early life and education

Vowels was born on 13 July 1893,[1] the second son of Thomas Vowles and Mary, Lacy.

His mother died on 18 May 1908.[2] Thomas Vowles was post master at Perth and later pay master at Melbourne GPO.[3]

Vowles was born at Melbourne, Victoria.[1] He was educated at Scots [Scotch] College, Western Australia.[4]

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

Vowles studied engineering before enlisting and was one of the original students in 1911[4] at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, graduating 28th in August 1914.[1] Vowels was appointed as Lieutenant in November 1914.[6]

As a cadet at RMC Duntroon, he designed the Corps of Staff Cadets badge.[1]

Adult life

Vowels and his wife had two children,[7] a son Robert, and a daughter Prudence, a librarian who had worked for a time at the RMC Duntroon library.[8]

Career

WWI

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

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.[1] 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,[9] by gassing, and evacuated to England.[1]

From late 1918 to February 1919 Vowles served with the Royal Horse Artillery in Palestine.[1]

Inter bella

Vowels was an instructor in artillery at RMC Duntroon[4] until February 1920.[1]

He attended Camberly Staff College, England[4] during 1926–27.[1]

Transferred from Keswick, Adelaide, Fourth Military District South Australia, to Brisbane July 1938.[10] Lieutenant Colonel Vowels was appointed as General Staff Officer of the 11th Mixed Brigade in charge of training operations in Queensland.[4]

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.[12]

WWII

Director of Military Training at AHQ from November 1939 to January 1942.[1]

Vowles commenced as Commandant 6th Military District January 1942,[13] Tasmanian Forces.[14]

Vowles was re-appointed Temporary Brigadier July 1942.[15]

During 1943-44 he commanded 12th Australian Infantry Brigade, and two base areas in New Guinea.[1]

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.[1]

Vowles took the RMC from two year courses to three year courses to four year courses.[1]

Re-appointed Temporary Brigadier February 1946.[16]

During Vowles' tenure RMC Duntroon moved to educate officers to a university degree standard.[17]

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 ...[18]

Vowles espoused broader scientific training for atomic warfare for Australian Army officers.[19]

He lobbied for a dedicated library building, the lack of which was impeding the library's growth, and for improved dental services.[20]

Awards and recognition

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The First Class . December 2011 . Newsletter . The Duntroon Society . 2/2011 . 11 February 2022.
  2. News: Family Notices . . XXIV . 6,912 . Western Australia . 19 May 1908 . 12 February 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Mr. Thomas Vowles . . 26,563 . Victoria, Australia . 5 June 1940 . 12 February 2022 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: MILITARY IN QUEENSLAND. . . 72 . 178 . Queensland, Australia . 28 July 1938 . 11 February 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: BRAVERY UNDER FIRE . . 12,583 . Victoria, Australia . 29 September 1916 . 12 February 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: PERSONAL. . . LXXI . 5,517 . South Australia . 28 November 1914 . 12 February 2022 . 29 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: COMMANDANT'S FAMILY . . CLV . 22,203 . Tasmania, Australia . 27 January 1942 . 12 February 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Arriving here with son . . 52 . 7,979 . South Australia . 2 March 1949 . 12 February 2022 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION . . 22 . 5046 . Western Australia . 11 December 1917 . 11 February 2022 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Farewell Party To Col. E. L. Vowles . . South Australia . 30 June 1938 . 12 February 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: NEW DIRECTOR OF MILITARY ART . . Tasmania, Australia . 14 February 1939 . 12 February 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: AUSTRALIAN STAFF CORPS. . . 56 . 16,766 . Western Australia . 29 March 1940 . 12 February 2022 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Brigadier Manchester Farewelled . . Tasmania, Australia . 16 January 1942 . 12 February 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: BRIGADIER AND INVALID . . CLVII . 22,535 . Tasmania, Australia . 20 February 1943 . 12 February 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: PROMOTION OF 8 ARMY OFFICERS . . 29,920 . Victoria, Australia . 17 July 1942 . 12 February 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation . . 34 . 21 February 1946 . 12 February 2022 . 409 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: PLANNING A NEW DUNTROON . . 21 . 6,073 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 25 September 1946 . 12 February 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Duntroon Lags Behind The Atomic Age . . 34,043 . New South Wales, Australia . 31 January 1947 . 12 February 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: ATOM WAR TRAINING FOR AUST. OFFICERS . . 23,689 . Queensland, Australia . 15 January 1948 . 12 February 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: DUNTROON STILL LACKS LIBRARY STATES REPORT . . 24 . 6,850 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 9 March 1950 . 12 February 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: Coronation Pageantry in Schools, Page 21. . . South Australia . 12 May 1937 . 11 February 2022 . 18 . National Library of Australia.