World War Two Cemeteries - A photographic guide to the cemeteries and memorials of WW2
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COWRA WAR CEMETERY

New South Wales

Australia

GPS Coordinates Latitude: -33.80182 Longitude: 148.69167​

Location Information

Cowra is a small town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The cemetery is located to the north of the town, close to Canowindra road.


Historical Information

During the Second World War there was a large camp for Japanese prisoners of war at Cowra, which was the scene of a mass outbreak in August 1944. Two men of the Australian military forces who lost their lives during the incident were awarded (posthumously) the George Cross. 

COWRA WAR CEMETERY contains 27 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. 

The war cemetery is situated within COWRA GENERAL CEMETERY, which itself contains one First World War burial and six from the Second World War.


COWRA WAR CEMETERY
COWRA WAR CEMETERY
COWRA WAR CEMETERY
Picture
N103951 Private
Benjamin Gower Hardy, G. C. 
A. C. M. F. 22nd Grn. Bn. Australian Infantry
5th August 1944, aged 45.
Plot D. D. 11.



Son of Benjamin. Gower Hardy and Emily Hardy, of Willoughby.


The following details are given in the London Gazette of 1st September, 1950 
​
Private Benjamin Gower Hardy was on duty with another soldier as the crew of a Vickers machine gun at the No. 12 Prisoner of War Camp, Cowra, guarding the compound in which were interned over 1000 Japanese prisoners of war. On the night of 4th-5th August, 1944, the prisoners staged a mass outbreak, stormed over the perimeter, and bore down on the machine gun crew. Private Hardy and his companion stood their ground and continued to work the gun until they were killed, displaying outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty against an overwhelming onslaught. Private Hardy met his death in the true British spirit of sacrifice for his country.

Picture
N244527 Private
Ralph Jones, G. C. 
A. C. M. F. 22nd Grn. Bn. Australian Infantry
5th August 1944, aged 43.
Plot D. D. 10.



Son of Henry William and Eliza Jones.


The following details are given in the London Gazette of 1st September, 1950.
​ 
Private Ralph Jones was on duty with another soldier as the crew of a Vickers machine gun at the No. 12 Prisoner of war Camp, Cowra, guarding the compound in which were interned over 1000 Japanese prisoners of war. On the night of 4th-5th August, 1944, the prisoners staged a mass outbreak, stormed over the perimeter, and bore down on the machine gun crew. Private Jones and his companion stood their ground and continued to work the gun until they were killed, displaying outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty against an overwhelming onslaught. Private Jones met his death in the true British spirit of sacrifice for his country.



Picture
Funeral held in Cowra of NX177735 Private (Pte) Colin Walter Jones, VX94193 Pte Norman Brian Young and VX94272 Pte Geoffrey Donald Boyle, all of the 19th Australian Infantry Training Battalion.

​On the 31 August 1944, Privates Jones, Young and Boyle, along with their instructor, QX5039 Lieutenant (Lt) Valentine Colin Read, a veteran of the Mediterranean campaigns, died from injuries accidentally received while engaged in field firing exercises at Howell's Creek, south east of Cowra, by the premature explosion of a mortar bomb. At the coronial enquiry held at Cowra on 13 September 1944, it was recorded that the deaths were not caused by neglect of any persons involved in the incident.
COWRA WAR CEMETERY

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Disclaimer


The casualty numbers for each cemetery are taken from the C. W. G. C. site. We are aware that there can be discrepancies in the numbers quoted.
(The G. P. S. Coordinates are also taken from the C. W. G. C. site)


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  • Australia
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    • HAINAUT
    • OOST-VLAANDEREN
    • VLAAMS-BRABANT
    • WEST-VLAANDEREN
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    • BELGIAN NON COMMONWEALTH CEMETERIES
  • France
    • CEMETERIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
    • AISNE
    • ARDENNES
    • CALVADOS
    • EURE AND EURE-ET-LOIR
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    • SEINE-MARITIME
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    • OTHER FRENCH DEPARTMENTS, A - L
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    • FRENCH NON COMMONWEALTH CEMETERIES
  • Italy
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  • United Kingdom
  • Other Countries
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  • Victoria Cross