I've hit a slight (?) brick wall, Carren. I can't find any mention of Bonat or Bowna among Australian men involved in the Boer War. Could have been attached to English, Scottish (like my great uncle) or Canadian Regiments, but so far, no joy. I may have to resort to local Historical Societies now. Stay tuned. Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: <aus-vic-ne-bounces@rootsweb.com> To: <AUS-VIC-NE@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 9:01 PM Subject: [AVNE] Mr. Bonat - Bowna Division > > Dear Peter, > > Thank you again for your encouraging reply to my Bonat/Bowna > inquiry. I am happy to think there is some sort of connection > between the names, if we can find it. > > The Bowna Army Division has been explained to me in this way: many > local land-holdings (sheep stations, etc.) "raised" soldiers for the > Army, both during WWI and during the Boer War period. Sometimes the > men in these local divisions actually carried the local banner into > battle, other times they were absorbed into the Colonial NSW > army. Other times, they became part of the British Army. > > I shall await further word from you. Thanks again so much for your > assistance. > > All best, > Carren (Kaston) > > > <mailto:aus-vic-ne-request@rootsweb.com>aus-vic-ne-request@rootsweb.com > wrote: > > >>Today's Topics: >> >> 1. Re: AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 (Carren Kaston) >> 2. Re: AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 (Peter Ross) >> >>Message: 2 >>Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:33:33 +1100 >>From: "Peter Ross" <mailto:rossof@ozemail.com.au><rossof@ozemail.com.au> >>Subject: Re: [AVNE] AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 >>To: <mailto:aus-vic-ne@rootsweb.com><aus-vic-ne@rootsweb.com> >>Message-ID: <003001c7533f$dce44160$0401a8c0@acerb13d74b0ac> >>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; >> reply-type=original >> >>Hi Carren, >> >>There is at least 80 or 100 kms between the Murrumbidgee River and the >>Murray River, so I don't think we have an identity crisis at all! The >>Bowna >>area is part of the Murray River system, which was inundated by the Hume >>Reservoir in the 1930s. This is a huge dam, by any world standards, and >>had >>an enormous impact on the Murray Valley when completed. >> >>I'm sure that your country also has the usual ten different versions of >>the >>native names of places? Where I live, the native name of the place is >>Yackandandah, which means (depending on your heritage, or level of >>gullibility!) "two rocks on top of one another", or "hilly country", or >>anything else that the first settlers pretended they understood! >> >>What I'm saying is that "Bowna" could mean "Bonat", but coud equally have >>been an approximation of the reply to a settler's question of a local >>aborigine... "what name this place?". Aborigine replies "Bowna", meaning >>"What the hell are you talking about?". >> >>Personally, I think the "coincidence" is far too strong to ignore, and >>that >>there is a sensible connection between the names "Bonat" and "Bowna", if >>only we can find it. >> >>Has anyone explained the "Bowna (Div) Army" to you in any way? >> >>One thing I've learned from this little exercise is that in fact apart >>from >>knowing the general area & topography, I know almost nothing of its >>history >>and I've grown up within 15 kms of the area. But I'm determined to find >>out! Watch this space. >> >>Peter > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-VIC-NE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 11 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try SPAMfighter for free now!