Duncan Cowan was born at Hamilton in 1884, a son of Duncan Cowan and Eliza Swan. The Cowan family lived at Gilmour in Clarke Street, Hamilton. Duncan Sr. was an actuary with the Hamilton Savings Bank. He died in October 1891 when Duncan was seven.
Duncan attended the Hamilton Academy and the Presbyterian Sunday School. When older played tennis for the Presbyterian Club and was a handy cricketer, representing Hamilton on several occasions. Like his father, he worked as a bookkeeper. Around the early 1910s, Duncan went to Keeroongooloo station in Queensland but returned by 1916 when he enlisted at Hamilton aged thirty-two. He went into camp with the newly formed 39th Battalion at Ballarat.
The 39th Battalion left Australia on 27 May 1916 for England, arriving almost two months later. Duncan was promoted to Corporal on 19 August 1916. After a few months of training, the 39th were off to France on 23 November. Duncan was hospitalised in December with mumps, but on his recovery, he returned to the battalion and was appointed Lance Sergeant in January 1917. He wrote home:
Tell them I am quite well, and still “boxing on” with the business. At present, I am enjoying a bit of a spell. Our regiment is out for a little time and we needed it, because we have been in the trenches, and at it solid ever since we came over here last November. Our lads are all in great heart though and will uphold the name of “Anzac” to the finish.
(Hamilton Spectator 26 May 1917)
In June 1917, Duncan received a comfort box from the St Arnaud branch of the Australian Women’s National League. Since the 39th Battalion had just been through the Battle of Messines in Belgium in early June, it would have been a nice surprise.
Duncan was promoted to Sergeant on 28 July 1917. He was granted leave from 24 September 1917. he battalion was still in Belgium near Zonnebeke when he returned 10 days later. The battalion went to Neuve Eglise before Christmas and was still there on 23 January 1918 when Duncan and other NCOs from the 39th Battalion posed for the photo below.
On 10 and 11 August 1918, the 39th Battalion was near Proyart, east of Amiens, preparing to capture the village. Duncan’s platoon faced a heavy machine-gun barrage from the enemy, and there were several casualties, including the platoon commander. With coolness and courage, Duncan took charge, rearranged the platoon, and returned to the wounded and arranged for their care. Duncan’s devotion and gallant conduct saw him awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Duncan was granted leave from 26 September 1918 and rejoined the unit on 11 October, the day after he was awarded his medal. A month later, the war ended, and Duncan was transferred to the AIF Kit Store in England in December 1918. He remained there until he left for Australia on 19 February 1919.
Getting back to some sort of normality, Duncan got work as a bookkeeper at Murgha station near Deniliquin, New South Wales. He married Hazel Silke at the station on 4 May 1928, and they remained in residence there. A daughter, Margaret, was born at Echuca in May 1929. Duncan died suddenly on 26 December 1933 at Murgha station, aged forty-nine. He was buried at the Deniliquin Cemetery.