If you visit Nagambie Cemetery, you will find the grave of Gavin Scott Cowan (OW1906), who died in July 1916, six months after being discharged from the 23rd AIF battalion.
He tried to enlist in 1915 but was initially rejected due to his poor physical condition. However as they were short of numbers, he was later accepted. On the ship to Egypt, he fell ill with pneumonia and was sent back to Australia and discharged.
He is the only OW on our honour roll who is not listed on the CWGC or AWM records as a war casualty, as presumably the authorities assessed his death was not due to war service. At the foot of the grave, his name is engraved in the stone with the words ‘late 23rd Battalion’.
It is probably one of the sadder stories of our WWI casualties. A man who wanted to do his bit but was just physically incapable. Lest we forget.