Robert Wanless O'Gowan
| Robert Wanless O'Gowan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 September 1864 |
| Died | 15 December 1947 (aged 83) Hindhead, Surrey |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1886–1920 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands held | Cannock Chase Reserve Centre (1918–20) 31st Division (1915–18) 13th Infantry Brigade (1915) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Mentioned in Despatches (8) |
Major General Robert Wanless O'Gowan CB, CMG (5 September 1864 – 15 December 1947) was a British Army officer who commanded the 31st Division during the First World War.
Wanless O'Gowan joined the Army in 1886, having transferred from the Militia, and served on regimental duties until the Second Boer War. He was sent to South Africa in 1899, and was severely wounded at the Battle of Spion Kop; he later served as a railway staff officer in 1900 and 1901 before returning home with the brevet rank of major. During the war, he was mentioned in despatches twice. He was then appointed as the Inspector of Musketry in the Southern District, and in 1903 formally confirmed in the rank of major and made deputy assistant adjutant-general for the North-East District. He returned to regimental duties in 1905.
In 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War, he took a staff role as assistant quartermaster-general and then assistant adjutant-general with the British Expeditionary Force. Following heavy fighting, he was assigned to 6th Division on 1 October as its assistant adjutant-general and quartermaster-general, succeeding Walter Campbell. He remained with the division until February 1915, handing over his post to Reginald May. O'Gowan was then transferred to a field command, taking over the 13th Brigade in the 5th Division. The brigade was temporarily attached to 28th Division at this time, and involved in defending against a heavy German attack at St. Eloi on 14 March, and the successful attack on Hill 60 in mid-April. In August, he was promoted to temporary major general returned to England to take command of the newly formed 31st Division, a New Army division predominantly drawn from the industrial towns of Northern England, and mainly composed of close-knit "Pals battalions".
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