218220 Pte. Stephen McDermott Fowles Canadian Expeditionary Force 44th Btn. (d.19th Jun 1918) Stephen Fowles was executed for desertion 19/06/1918 and buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, France.
Stephen was born on 13 June 1897 in Winnipeg. In February 1916 Fowles enlisted in the 107th Battalion, which sailed for England in September 1916. Fowles was later sent to France as part of a reinforcement of the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion.
Within a year of his enlistment, Fowles was court-martialled for desertion and found guilty. His sentence of death was reduced during the confirmation process to 10 years' imprisonment, which was itself later reduced to a suspended sentence and Fowles was returned to his unit.
Despite these events, Fowles deserted and on 29 December 1917 was again sentenced to death. For a second time, the sentence was commuted to a suspended sentence. Given the need to combat the German offensive, Fowles was returned to his unit.
Shortly after rejoining his unit, Fowles deserted for a 3rd time and was not detained until he turned himself in on 2 May 1918. Fowles was court-martialled for desertion, found guilty and sentenced to death.
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