FOWLER, RAYMOND RICHARD Rank: Private Service No: 14211 Date of Death: 18/05/1941 Age: 21 Regiment/Service: New Zealand Infantry Panel Reference: Face 13. Memorial: ATHENS MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Osborne James Fowler and Bridget Tresa Fowler, of Hokitika, Westland, New Zealandhttp://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2106266/FOWLER,%20RAYMOND%20RICHARD
The NZ online cenotaph only adds a few snippets to his story, mainly that he was a member of the 26th Battalion http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C24073?rs=%2fwar-memorial%2fonline-cenotaph%2fsearch%2f%3fn%3dFowler%26w%3dWorld%2bWar%2bII%252c%2b1939-1945&ck=03c97b213ff1d4cf18ac319861e3e127&ordinal=18 And I would presume that he was a POW in the care of the Germans when he died from wounds: Finally, early on 2 May, 46 days after leaving it, the troops set foot on Egyptian soil again. The convoy steamed into Port Said, and at the wharf Mrs. Chapman and other YMCA helpers were waiting with hot tea and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of cakes, chocolate, and cigarettes. The battalion reassembled and marched to a siding where a typical Egyptian troop train was waiting to carry it to new quarters. The campaign in Greece was over. The battalion's casualties totalled 76. Eleven men were killed, four died of wounds, and 42 were wounded. Ten of the wounded, together with twelve hospital cases and seven others were taken prisoner. Nearly all the casualties were the result of the enemy air attacks in the later stages of the withdrawal. To those who had come overseas to fight it had been a disappointing campaign in many respects. During its 39 days in Greece the battalion had stayed overnight in 18 different localities. On no fewer than nine occasions defensive positions had been prepared, but each time the enemy approached the order came to withdraw. These frequent moves and the paucity of information circulating down to the troops had caused general discontent. This was a complaint common throughout the army at this time but which was rectified as the war progressed. In the meantime, everyone was pleased to be back in Egypt, away from enemy dive-bombers and free from the tension of not knowing what was going to happen next. http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz//tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-26Ba-c3.html
