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australian rowers profiles and history

Allan Spowers MC DSO

Melbourne University Boat Club (VIC)

Allan Spowers was a pre WWI rower who successfully competed both at the Victorian Head of the River and at the Australian University Championships. He was Captain of Boats at Geelong Grammar.

As his post-nominals indicated, he served with distinction in WWI for the British Army. His service included Gallipoli. He was promoted in the field to Lieutenant. His service continued in WWII.

The following is an extract from his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry describing his WWII service which was equally meritorious.

In 1928-33 Spowers served in the Militia. He was mobilized as a captain in the 46th Battalion in September 1939 and promoted major in November. Transferring to the Australian Imperial Force in May 1940, he was promoted lieutenant colonel and appointed commander of the 2nd/24th Battalion in July. Six ft 1 in. (185 cm) tall and sparely built, with penetrating grey-blue eyes and a commanding voice, he maintained high standards of conduct, insisted on mental and physical toughness, and disdained pretentiousness.

The 2nd/24th arrived in the Middle East in December 1940, withdrew to Tobruk, Libya, in April 1941 and was besieged there until October. In January 1942 the battalion was sent to Syria for intensive training. Spowers was twice mentioned in dispatches for his services. Ordered back to the Western Desert in June in response to the German advance into Egypt, he and his men played a leading role in the battle of Tel el Eisa. Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead described Spowers's leadership as 'outstandingly meritorious' and he was to be awarded a Bar (1945) to his D.S.O. On 12 July 1942 he became a prisoner of war when his jeep was inadvertently driven into enemy territory.

Freed in Germany in March 1945 and repatriated in August, Spowers was appointed temporary colonel and director of amenities, Army Headquarters, Melbourne. He transferred to the Reserve of Officers on 17 July 1946.

After the war, he provided valuable service  as a committee man to the Melbourne Amateur Regatta Committee, the regatta committee that ran the Australian Henley regatta.

Key rowing achievements:

1910 - APS Head of the River, Geelong Grammar First VIII, stroke - Unplaced

1911 - APS Head of the River, Geelong Grammar First VIII, stroke - Second

1913 - Australian Universities Championships, Men's Eight, two seat - First

1914 - Australian Universities Championships, Men's Eight, four seat - First

1914 - Australian Henley Regatta, Grand Challenge Cup for eights, four seat - First

Andrew Guerin
February 2025

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