People Australia

Harold Holowell, 1942

from WWII army service file

Harold William Holowell (1923-2002) munitions worker and trade union official

Birth: 26 May 1923 at North Melbourne, Victoria, son of native-born parents William Harold John Holowell (1890-1959), boxmaker, and Mary Ann, née Reilly (1900-1996). Marriage: 1945 in Victoria to Jean Laura Swinton (1922-1996). Death: 27 August 2002 at Victoria. Religion: Catholic. 

• His father served in the first Australian Imperial Force in World War I.
• Harold worked at the Commonwealth Government Explosive Factory, Maribyrnong, Victoria. Joined the Maritime Workers’ Union in 1938.
• Enlisted for part time service in the Australian Citizen Military Force on 22 December 1941 and for full time service on 27 October 1942. Served in New Guinea and New Britain. Transferred to the second Australian Imperial Force on 13 April 1945. Discharged on 15 June 1946.
• Returned to the Explosive Factory 1946. Joined anti-armament push. Active in 1952 to overthrow Communist Party of Australia leadership.
• Member of the committee of management of Federated Ironworkers’ Association (FIA) in 1955. Delegate to national conference FIA; vice-president, FIA 1958; national president, FIA. President of the Victoria branch in 1962. National councillor of FIA for ten years; national trustee for six years. Secretary of the Victorian branch in 1981 on death of Joe Reed and was elected to the position in 1982.
• Appointed AM for service to the trade union movement on 26 January 1990.

Sources
Labor News, May-July 1985.