RANK OF COLONEL’

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 6

RANK OF COLONEL’

DR. G. W. GOWER'S POST COMMAND GENERAL HOSPITAL MILITARY SERVICE' OVERSEAS With the rank of Temporary Colonel, Dr. G. W. Gower, of Hamilton, has been provisionally appointed to command a General Hospital overseas with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, according to an announcement by the army authorities. Colonel Gower will leave for camp next week-end-

Colonel Gower, M.D. (N.Z.), F.R.C.S. (Edin.), F.R.A.C.S., who served in the Great War, attaining the rank of Major, has had a notable medical and sporting career. Born in Invercargill, the son of a chemist, he received his early schooling at the Rangiora High School before attending the Christchurch Boys’ High School and Wellington College. Following a year at Victoria University College he attended the Otago University for four years and qualified in medicine in 1910. After some time as a house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital he acted as locum tenens in various centres in Otago for two years, and first came to Hamilton in this capacity when he relieved Dr. H. Douglas at the Waikato Hospital in 1913. During 1913 and 1914 he was in private practice in Hamilton and from 1915 to 1919 was on active war service. Returning to Hamilton in 1920, he was appointed surgeon superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, resigning in 1929. Since 1930 he has been in private practice in Hamilton. Military Experience Colonel Gower has had lengthy military service and experience. In 1913 he was second-in-command of the No. 5 New Zealand Mounted Field Ambulance Territorial Unit, with the rank of Lieutenant. Proceeding overseas early in 1915 he was second-in-command of the No. 133 Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., in France, and during 1916, 1917 and 1918 he was medical officer, with the rank of Captain, in the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst. During this time he undertook a four months’ special course in orthopaedics in Liverpool, under the tuition of Sir Robert Jones, and in 1919 he was surgeon to the New Zealand Military Orthopaedic Hospital in Christchurch, with the rank of Major. Between 1920 and the outbreak of the present war he was on the Reserve of Officers, and in 1937 was appointed Regional Deputy for the No. 2 (Hauraki) and No. 4 (Hamilton) military areas, being responsible for the supervision of all •medical boards in the districts. Sporting Career During his residence in Hamilton Colonel Gower has been prominently identified with many sporting bodies, and he himself had an outstanding sporting career. He represented Otago University at hockey for four years and the Otago Provincial Association for three years, and played for the South Island before coming to Hamilton. He was captain of the Waikato hockey representatives in 1913, 1914, 1915 and again in 1920. He has been a vice-president of the Old Boys Hockey Club and the Waikato Association for many years. He represented Otago University at tennis for four years and has been a member of the Hamilton Lawn Tennis Club since 1913, a vicepresident since 1937. A Waikato representative badminton player, he has been president of the Waikato Badminton Association for seven years and president of the Hamilton Club for a similar term, being also a life member of the club. In 1938 he was president of the New Zealand Badminton Federation and is at present a member of the New Zealand Council. He has been president of the Hamilton Squash Racquets Club since its inception, and is a past president and patron of the Hamilton Yacht Club. Interest In Aviation Keenly interested in aviation, Colonel Gower is a member of the Waikato Aero Club and gained his "A" flying license in 1934. As a member of the Hamilton Domain Board he has taken a prominent part in .the remodelling of many of the town’s sporting areas and has been particularly interested in the general improvement of sporting facilities.