William came from Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham and was the son of Mr & Mrs David Bowler.  He enlisted on 11th October 1910.   He went to France with his Battalion on 4th November 1914 and served with B Company.  He spent some time in hospital in March 1915 but was evacuated back to the UK on 12th March 1915 to 16th August 1915.  He served back in France from 17th August 1915 to 11th June 1917 until his discharge on 9th October 1917 as medically unfit for further service.  His hospital card in the Regimental archive shows he was with 2nd Battalion D Company and was admitted to the First Australian General Hospital on 15th September 1916.  He served 7 years and 272 days with the colours.  He was appointed Lieutenant Corporal on 26th September 1916 and acting Sergeant on 26th May 1917.  (William had a brother Private J Bowler 8517 who was a POW).