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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. Albert Cowie
British Army 6th Btn. Black Watch
from:Kinnaird, Scotland
(d.21st March 1918)
Albert Cowie is listed on the cenotaph at Farnell, Scotland. He was the son of John and Mary Cowie of Forebank Cottage, Kinnaird Castle, Brechin, Forfarshire. The date of his death differs in various records, either the 21st or 31st of March 1918. He was my grandmother Ann's, youngest brother.
Pte. Norman Cowie
British Army D Coy, 10th/11th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
from:Glasgow
(d.30th July 1916)
Pte. Walter James Cowie
British Army 1st Bat. B Co. Gordon Highlanders
from:Middleton by Youlgreave, Derbyshire
(d.23rd Aug 1916)
Walter Cowie was one of three brothers who fought in World War 1. His brother, Leonard also served with the Gordons whilst his other sibling, Alan John (my great granddad) served with the Sherwood Foresters. Walter was the only one who failed to return home after the war, he was killed during the Somme offensive.
Capt. William Anderson "Anson" Cowie MC.
British Army 9th Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
(d.30 May 1918)
I am researching William Cowie as he appears on a memorial at my local church in Scotland. I just wish to put a face and story to a name.
Pte. William Cowie
British Army 6th Battalion Cameron Highlanders
from:Inverness
(d.28th March 1918)
The only information I have is that William Cowie of the 6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders died of wounds at the 41st Clearing Station on 28th of March 1918.He is buried Wanquetin Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He was a resident of Inverness. Sole Legatee of his effects was Mrs Annie Allison.
Matthew Cowing
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Matthew Cowing served 1914 to 1917 with the RNR.
Sgt. Thomas Henry Cowle
British Army 11th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Ramsey, Isle of Man
(d.19th May 1916)
Thomas Cowle was aged 21 when he died. He is buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery at Mont-St. Eloi.
Pte Albert Victor Cowles
British Army 1st Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Sheffield, S.Yorkshire
(d.11th Jul 1916)
Albert Victor Cowles was my grandfather's brother. Albert was 19 years old when he was killed in action on the Somme. He has no grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Monument. The 1911 Census states that Albert was 14 years of age and at that time, was working as a Pony Driver at Tinsley Pit, Sheffield. One of Albert's older brothers - David - was killed in 1915 at Gallipoli. My grandfather John survived the war, but as he suffered the effects of gassing in the trenches, he was never strong again and died in 1935 aged 45 years - as much a casualty of WWI as his brothers.
Sgt. Walter Edward Cowles
British Army 9th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
from:Wymondham, Norfolk
(d.25th Sept 1915)
Walter Cowles was born in Wymondham. He enlisted in the 9th King's Royal Rifle Corps in Norwich. He served in France & Flanders from 21st May 1915 and was killed in action on 25th September 1915. He is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial and on the Wymondham War Memorial. He was a resident of Wymondham.
This paragraph is from the Royal of Honour and records the names of those killed in WWI and WWII whose names are on the Wymondham War Memorial in Norfolk. Detailed Information compiled by Chris Clarke in 2014
Walter was my mother's great uncle and his sister, my mother's maternal grandmother, never forgot her favourite brother and mourned him till she died. In fact she named her first born son Walter in his memory. After being wounded Walter was sent home on leave to recuperate. Just before he was sent back to the front he met my mother's mother, his 8 year old niece, in Wymondham and told her that he was going back to the war and that he would not return. His body was never found.
In August 2014 I took my 84 year old mother to Ypres so that she could leave a poppy cross at the panel on the Menin Gate, where his name is recorded, and another poppy cross at one of the graves of an unknown soldier (that may have been his) on behalf of herself and for her grandmother.
Lt.Cdr. Charles Henry Cowley VC.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve SS Julnar
from:Ashan, Basra
(d.24th Apr 1916)
Lieutenant Commander Charles Henry Cowley VC served with the Royal Navy during WW1 and was killed in action, age 44, aboard SS Julnar on the 24th April 1916. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial in Iraq. He was the son of Mrs. Cowley, of Kiddary St., Ashan, Basra.
An extract from "The London Gazette," dated, 2nd Feb., 1917, records the following:- "The General Officer Commanding, Indian Expeditionary Force "D", reported on this attempt in the following words:- " At 8 p.m. on April 24th, 1916, with a crew from the Royal Navy under Lieut. Firman, R.N., assisted by Lieut. Comdr. Cowley, R.N.V.R., the " Julnar ", carrying 270 tons of supplies, left Falahiyah in an attempt to reach Kut. Her departure was covered by all artillery and machine gun fire that could be brought to bear, in the hope of distracting the enemy's attention. She was, however, discovered and shelled on her passage up the river. At 0100 on the 25th, Gen. Townshend reported that she had not arrived, and that at midnight a burst of heavy firing had been heard at Magasis, some 9 miles from Kut by river, which had suddenly ceased. There could be but little doubt that the enterprise had failed, and the next day the Air Service reported the " Julnar " in the hands of the Turks at Magasis.
The leaders of this brave attempt, Lieut. H.O.B. Firman, R.N., and his assistant, Lieut. Comdr. C.H. Cowley, R.N.V.R. - the latter of whom throughout the campaign in Mesopotamia performed magnificent service in command of the "Mejidieh", - have been reported by the Turks to have been killed; the remainder of the gallant crew, including five wounded, are prisoners of war. Knowing well the chances against them, all the gallant officers and men who manned the 'Julnar' for the occasion were volunteers. I trust that the services in this connection of Lieut. H.O.B. Firman, R.N., and Lieut. Comdr. C.H. Cowley, R.N.V.R., his assistant, both of whom were unfortunately killed, may be recognised by the posthumous grant of some suitable honour." The account of the award is preceded by the following paragraph:- "The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the posthumous grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officers in recognition of their conspicuous gallantry in an attempt to re-provision the force besieged in Kut-el-Amara."
Lt.Cmdr. Charles Henry Cowley VC.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve SS Julnar
from:Ashan, Basra
(d.24th Apr 1916)
Charles Henry Cowley died on the 24th of April 1916, aged 44 and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq. He was the son of Mrs. Cowley, of Kiddary St., Ashan, Basra.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated, 2nd Feb., 1917, records the following:- "The General Officer Commanding, Indian Expeditionary Force "D", reported on this attempt in the following words:- " At 8 p.m. on April 24th, 1916, with a crew from the Royal Navy under Lieut. Firman, R.N., assisted by Lieut. Comdr. Cowley, R.N.V.R., the Julnar, carrying 270 tons of supplies, left Falahiyah in an attempt to reach Kut.
Her departure was covered by all artillery and machine gun fire that could be brought to bear, in the hope of distracting the enemy's attention. She was, however, discovered and shelled on her passage up the river. At 1 a.m. on the 25th, Gen. Townshend reported that she had not arrived, and that at midnight a burst of heavy firing had been heard at Magasis, some 9 miles from Kut by river, which had suddenly ceased. There could be but little doubt that the enterprise had failed, and the next day the Air Service reported the Julnar in the hands of the Turks at Magasis. The leaders of this brave attempt, Lieut. H.O.B. Firman, R.N., and his assistant, Lieut. Comdr. C.H. Cowley, R.N.V.R. - the latter of whom throughout the campaign in Mesopotamia performed magnificient service in command of the Mejidieh, - have been reported by the Turks to have been killed; the remainder of the gallant crew, including five wounded, are prisoners of war. Knowing well the chances against them, all the gallant officers and men who manned the Julnar for the occasion were volunteers. I trust that the services in this connection of Lieut. H.O.B. Firman, R.N., and Lieut. Comdr. C.H. Cowley, R.N.V.R., his assistant, both of whom were unfortunately killed, may be recognised by the posthumous grant of some suitable honour." The account of the award is preceded by the following paragraph:- "The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the posthumous grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officers in recognition of their conspicuous gallantry in an attempt to re-provision the force besieged in Kut-el-Amara."
Sgt George Samuel Cowley
British Army 9th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
from:London
This is a transcript of a booklet sent to me by my grandfather when I first left home for work. It describes his whole life including his time during WW1. I have included everything as I think it gives a feel for the times and his life.
The original notes are written in an exercise book obtained from his small shop that he and Nan had in Edmonton, North London (it was just like Albert Arkwright's shop in Open All Hours!). I am fortunate that copies of his war records survived in the National Archives confirming his stories. He was lucky to survive the war - despite being wounded twice, and died in 1977. I have added a couple of explanatory notes where applicable. I hope that you find the attached of interest.
July 6th 1970
Dear Andrew,
I thought perhaps you might be interested to read about your GranPopâs early life and onwards:
I was born in London 1892. My father died when I was 12 months old. I lived in Macklin Street, Drury Lane. At the corner of Drury Lane & Macklin Street was the first little grocery shop of Sainsburyâs which today has grown into a 20 million pound company.
When my father died, he left my Mum all on her own with four children (two boys and two girls) to bring up; we were hard up.
My first memory was when I was about 3 years old, being taken to a Mothersâ Meeting to Southend and taken on a boat and hearing them singing hymns. My next fascinating memory was when I was 4 years old and being taken to St James Park to see Queen Victoriaâs Diamond Jubilee Parade (Tuesday, 22 June 1987 â see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17368499) in the park opposite the Horse Guards Parade Barracks.
At that same time, which nobody knows about today, opposite the Horse Guards Parade in the park, was a small wooden refreshment shed where you could buy drinks and glasses of milk. The milk was drawn direct from cows, which were kept in the back of the shed, so you had a good drink of germs and viruses all mixed together.
Well, as I have said my Mum was very hard up for money and it was a great worry for her to pay the rent, feed and clothe the four of us and keep the home going. So one day she applied to the Council for relief. I was about 6 years old at the time, and I remember a big tall man coming and almost shouting at Mum and saying âAre you starving?â âNo not yetâ, said Mum. The man then started looking round the rooms and said âsell all this furniture and you will have enough to live onâ. This of course Mum would not do and was too proud to go begging to this sort of person.
However, a local Vicar at the Parish Church, found a job for her in the London Government Offices of the Inland Revenue in the City of London, near St Paulâs Cathedral. Her job was to scrub and clean the floors and offices at 6am every morning. This meant she had to be up at 5am sharp to get to the City of London by 6am and sign on. This was in all weathers, rain, snow, frost etc. This was damned hard work for Mum. No cleaning gadgets in those days, but just down on your knees and get on with it. We managed fairly well but it was hard work so we all had to help and pull our weight.
About 2 years later one of my sisters (Violet, about 10 years old) died of poisoning through eating salmon or ice cream; the doctors did not know which. Violet was my Mumâs favourite child and it was months before she could get over it.
I was now eight years old and was up with the top boys at school. Although this was a very old school, we had some distinguished teachers and a very fine and clever old Head Master who was a A.L.P., F.E.I.B, M.A. and etc etc. The discipline was also very strict and because I was sort of happy-go-lucky, meant I soon had to get used to the cane pretty frequently even up till I was about 13 years old. Also every morning, the school hall book was shut on the dot of 9am and if you were not inside for prayers you were locked outside till they were over and then the Head Master would open the door with cane in hand and all those late outside would get the stick. I often used to smile to myself when I stretched out my hand, as he would say to me âyou know sonny it hurts me more than it does youâ. I was also then the tallest boy in the school, about 5ft 7â, so it amused me when one of our lady teachers, who was very small , about 5ft called me out for the cane and said âthe next time I have to call you out I will knock you downâ.
I did very well at practically everything at school except for geometry which I hated. I was captain of soccer, vice captain of cricket, top of swimming, long distance running and walking. But my greatest joy was and always has been music. My father, before he died, was soloist at the Northampton Parish Church. Music has always run in the Cowleys for generations. Well I remember, even as a little child, listening to my mum singing. She also belonged to a Choral Society and had a most beautiful voice.
Now I was eight when I had an offer to join the Royal Choir of King Charles 2nd, London West Central Royal Parish Church (There were about 60 men and boys.) We boys all had to wear Eton suits with striped trousers and red tassled mortar-board hats: our cassocks also were a royal red colour. This, was at that time a very rich Church, (I am sorry to say it is a very poor Church now) when I joined the boysâ choir and the boys were paid 5/- a quarter; a lot of money it was in those days. You then advanced and the top boy would be paid ÂŁ2 per quarter. But it was damned hard work with strict discipline. We had to have three practices of 2 hours on three nights and one practice on two and half hours with the master each week. We also had to attend three services on Sundays â and sometimes four.
But we had the finest choir master and musician in London; he also was editor of Londonâs âMusic Magazineâ as well as being a composer of music. Also, our Rector was Canon of St. Paulâs Cathedral, so you can guess we had the finest music in London. Our Church was always full of people, both the ground floor and the galleries; also our organ was the finest in London.
Well, after studying and singing hard, I made the grade and was top boy at the age of 12 at ÂŁ2 a qtr. This money helped mum, but it was not all honey. The artful way the choir fund used to get some of its money back from me was as follows:
As I said before, strict discipline and I did not always agree as I was generally always up to some lark or another. Some of my money was paid back as follows:
- 1/- fine for smoking cigarettes
- 1/- fine for pulling church bell
- 1/- fine for singing out of tune
- 1/- fine for making a noise outside of Church
- 1/- fine for pulling red tassles out of boys hat (see later)
- 1/- fine for being late etc etc.
âŚand that was how some of my fortune went.
At the age of 12, I sang all the solos myself with combined choir in the oratories of Handelâs Messiah, Haydonâs Creation, Stainerâs Crucifiction, Mendlesohn, Mozart, Gounod, Bach, etc etc. I do not like boasting, but I really did have a beautiful voice and strong voice which you had to have to be heard on top of the combined choir.
The most miserable weeks of my life were when I had just turned 14 years old and my treble voice broke. I felt absolutely lost and did not know what to do, my glorious voice had gone and I felt weak, but I am not ashamed to say I did cry. However, time has its compensations, about 8 weeks afterwards, my alto voice started and once again I was singing lovely solos in alto. Strangely, this only lasted a few years and my voice went right down to bass and I became bass soloist in the choir. I also sang bass songs outside at different concerts songs such as (Drake goes West, Glorious Devon, Boys of the Old Brigade, Asleep in the Deep. Sergeant of the Lines.
My name would be on boards all round the parish as it did when I used to go out singing as a boy (Master Cowley from etc will singâŚ) and then afterwards (Mr Cowley from etc will sing ..) It really was a beautiful life then.
Back to real life again:
Being 14, I left school to look for a job to get some money to help Mum keep the home going, as she still had to go to the city to scrub the offices and be there at 6am. I was introduced by the Parish Priest to a firm of jewellers at 14. The worst part was I had to live in and sleep there and at that age 14, as you partly know, it is a big break having to leave home. The only consolation was my fave shop was not very far from home, being then in Oxford Street where Selfridges now stands on the same spot.
My hours of work were 8am till 8pm everyday, except Sundays. 72 hours a week, as well as not being able to join in any kind of sports etc.
I began to take a great interest in my work as a jeweller and was with their firm for nearly eight years. During these eight years, I met at Church my life long sweetheart, your Nan. As I had Sunday afternoons off, your Nan and I would go out walking and courting and as both of us were fit and strong, would sometimes walk about 10 to 14 miles, nearly always starting from the top of Highgate Hill, right then across Highgate, Primrose Hill, Hampstead, Golders Green, right on to Hendon near where Aunt Fan now lives, but in those days there were no roads across this way, only lovely lanes and green fields.
However, back to earth and reality:
My second struggle to live was now about to commence â 1914 had come and war against Germany started. The Greatest War the world had ever known. After keeping on reading the horrible things about the Germans, I made up my mind to join the army in 1914, so I had to give my governor a monthâs notice and he called me a bloody fool for joining up.
In those days I was fairly well off, getting ÂŁ3 each week, which was about 20/- (20 shillings = ÂŁ1) above a skilled mans wages. I was also getting board and lodging free, which made it roughly worth about ÂŁ4.10.00 a week.
However, my mind was made up and I joined the Queen Victoria Rifles at their H.Q. in Davies Street, Oxford Street, London, near Bond Street and you had to be fit; no-one with eyeglasses etc. were accepted and there was a strict body examination. Also, our regulation marching was 180 steps to the minute and we had route marches up to 20 miles with full packs and rifle and ammunition, totalling about 40lbs dead weight.
However, I joined up the West End H.Q. Davies Street. It was very laughable, they rigged me out in uniform etc. and put all my clothes in a large army kit bag, I put the kit bag over my shoulder and marched down Davies Street towards Oxford Street like a true soldier, I thought. At Oxford Street, I wanted to catch a bus on the other side. I got to the middle of Oxford Street when âBangâ, I dropped the kit bag off my shoulder and scattered all my civvy clothes amongst all the traffic. Did I swear to myself, all the civvies were smiling at me and I thought this is a damned good start. However, I got my civvies (clothes) home to Mum and she had a little weep.
However, we went back each day to H.Q. The only training ground left for us, the Queen Victoriaâs, was in Hyde Park, where we used to drill - square bashing and marching etc. This lasted a few weeks and my company were then sent down to the south coast of England to do rifle shooting, bayonet fighting and trench jumping. I was good at shooting even up to about 800 yards. I had marvellous eyesight in those days.
To continue:
After a few weeks we were given two days last leave in London before being sent to France.
It was very sad for my mother and my sweet heart, your Nan. However, it had to be. In a few days, after I had got back to my regiment, one dark night we were shipped across to France in a naval warship. In France, also in the dark, we were put on a train, which moved slowly up north to Ypres, which then was part of the British Army H.Q. We got out of the train and were marched in the dark to Army H.Q near front line trenches. Our regiment was given orders to take supplies etc. to the regular army at the front. As we marched towards the front, we heard the guns blazing away like Hell, but it was nothing like it was going to be. A lot of our chaps had never even heard a gun before.
When we got to the front with our supplies for the regulars, we were given important jobs to do. One of my first jobs was to crawl out at night in front of all our trenches and mend a lot of broken barbwire barricades and also take out new barbwire for defences. These jobs werenât too bad as long as you did not make the slightest noise; if you did, âZimâ, a snipers bullet would come whizzing across. Also, how I have cursed on a dark night outside the trenches, when all of a sudden the moonshine would burst through and light up the whole front of the trenches. This was very peculiar as the blaze and colour of the light also seemed to camouflage you as long as you kept perfectly still. But if you moved, you were seen at once and you had it.
And now about the War:
The British Army at this time were getting a pretty bad beating owing to the huge, tremendous numbers of the Germans against our small army.
My regiment, Queen Victoriaâs, helped in different skirmishes and also kept a strong hold on reserve trenches, but were mixed up in a sudden advance by the Germans on a commanding hill called Hill 60. It was there the Queen Vic Rifles were the first of all Territorials to win the first V.C., which was won by an Officer of the Queen Victoriaâs. (Lieutenant Geoffrey Harold Woolley)
The war proceeded slowly and we seemed to be always going backward right to the end of 1915. Of course by now I was used to shell fire, whistling bullets, the sight and awful smell of dead bodies and, if it poured with rain, your clothes simply damp on you. As I have just said we seemed to be going backwards and it seemed at the end of 1915 both armies seemed to have had enough and both determined to dig themselves in big deep trenches facing each other. It was about this time the storms and thick mud started and long planks of wood were thrown on the bottom of the trenches to stop you from being stuck in the bottom of the trench. It was about this time I was promoted in the field to the rank of Corporal in charge of the Bombers. At this time, both armies could not go far as the land nearly all round was one vast sea of mud and dirt. It was now just before Xmas, 1915. I lost my pal Herb, a sergeant about 6ft odd tall and big. As I have said, just before Xmas, my company was ordered to go at night and relieve the company in the trenches. When we arrived we put our men in the dugouts and others on the trench lookouts. After seeing the men into their proper positions, my pal the Sergeant and I went along to find a dugout to sleep in. We always used to sleep together. This night we could only find a very little dugout, which would not hold two and my pal said âyou go along and sleep with the boys and I can just get inside this dugoutâ. I said âAlright Herbâ and went along about 200 yards when bang came a shell right in my palâs dugout and killed him instantly. It was very sad to me as we had been together for a long time.
The next episode was just after Xmas, about the beginning of 1916, (January). I felt extra thirsty one morning and said to two chaps who were with me in that part of the trench, âI am going to drum up a can of teaâ. They said âfineâ. I found some old bits of wood and lighted them; they (the wood) being a bit damp began to smoke and in a second âbangâ, over came a trench mortar shell and dropped right in the middle of the three of us. It knocked the other two right out and I was lucky to escape with my arm torn by a piece of the shell. I was sent to base hospital for a few weeks and then back again to the Queen Vicâs. About Feb 1916, both armies now began to plan for the Great Offensive to end this war of all wars. About March the weather got bad and I can remember lying in the snow in an advanced listening post on my birthday, April 5th 1916⌠in the snow! It was hardly ever heard of to have snow in April, especially in France. However, a few weeks later it had all gone and the really nice weather started. About the end of May, our army gradually started to get ready; so did the Germans. We started at night digging advance trenches and often got a good shelling from the Germans who gave us a good hiding. The day was fixed by our army for the Great Advance, which was supposed to be a secret, it was the 1st of July 1916. This was the Greatest Battle the World has ever known, the Battle of the Somme.
The 1st of July, I remember as the most beautiful summerâs morning, about 5am larks were singing high up in the sky and all the birds were singing. Then about 5.30am truly all hell was let loose as a thousand guns opened fire and hundreds of machine guns and trench mortars and the English Army's advance to hell began.
My Regiment, the Queen Vics, went forward over the top, (At Gommecourt) our regimental strength over 800 strong. We took the first German trench, but the Germans had been ready for us for months and nearly all their men were in the reserve trenches at the back and we were mown down by machine guns. At the end of which the next morning, myself and 122 others answered a roll call out of over 800 men. The same thing had happened to London Regiments nearly all along the length of the advance; the casualties killed and wounded amounted to 10âs of thousands. (Actually 57240 British and 7000 French) This carnage and slaughter went on for a few weeks and men were being used simply as cannon fodder, till some one in Parliament put a stop to it and things quietened down a bit till the bright boys in the army H.Q. down White Hall began to think up another advance in 1917.
The 1917 advance was beginning to begin very slowly about March. One morning my company of Queen Vicâs were roughly awakened about 4.30 and told to get ready to advance over the top about 5am. In these mornings, every day all through the winter till about now (March) every man was given a ration of rum. It was also my job to give each man a ration in his mug. This morning, the jar of rum arrived late and I had not got time to dish it out as the advance was commencing, so my pal and I went over the top carrying the jar of rum between us ready to fight anybody and everybody. But alas, I only got three quarters of the way across through a hail of machine gun bullets and was shot through the hip and fell down a shell hole, which was lucky for me as nearly all my men must have been knocked out. The shell hole saved my life as every time I moved, a sniper whizzed a bullet across the top of my head. I lay in that shell hole all day from about 6am till about 8.30pm at night not daring to move and then as darkness began, I crawled slowly and painfully back towards the English trenches⌠also having the chance of being shot through being mistaken for a German. However, I was lucky in being able to shout to them I was one of the Queen Victoriaâs. I was taken to casualty station and then put on a train and shipped on to a hospital ship bound for London, England.
Oh the joy of Nan coming to the hospital to see me and the lovely luxury once more of lying in a real bed with white sheets and blankets.
After a few months my leg got better and I was posted back to my Regiment, the Queen Vicâs at the training H.Q. at Deepcut Barracks at Black Down near Farnborough, Hants.
When I arrived there I was made Sergeant bombing instructor. This was not a bad job but it had its hazards. For instance, a lot of new recruits were absolutely nervous once they held a live bomb (Grenade) in their hands, the fuse only lasted 5 seconds once the pin had been pulled out and I had to watch them like a hawk to make sure they were pulling the pin properly and throwing the bomb high enough and far enough over the top of the trench. Another tricky job I had to do: sometimes when the bomb was a dud bomb had not gone off, I had to go out afterwards and find the bomb and gently diffuse it and make it safe, which was not a nice job.
However, at last came 11am, 11th November 1918 â Armistice and my bombing job was finished and I was put Sergeant in charge of the demobilization office to write out the list of mensâ names to leave the army and you can bet I put my name near the top of the list. I was demobbed in February 1919 and got married on my birthday, 5th April 1919. And now the real struggle to live was to begin. I went round to my old firm and the old governor had the cheek to tell me he could not help me as I had been away a long time. So then began an awful nearly 6 years on the dole and living by doing all sorts of odd jobs like thousands of other ex-soldiers like myself who were told England had been made a place for heroes to live in⌠and by God you had to be a hero to keep living.
, all things have an end and I was given a job in a Bond Street Jewellers and life began again. Your dad was then born in December 1925 and (Uncle) Ken in January 1928. All went well till 1932 when the Great World Slump started in America and England and everybody began to be out of work through loss of trade and government money. I, being the last of the firmâs employees, had to be the first discharged and was back again on the dole with two children to keep. It was a good job Nan was doing part time work and earning money to help. After weeks on the dole, a silver lining appeared through our dark clouds and Nanâs mother and her four sisters and all (our) relatives put money together to help us buy the little shop in Edmonton (66 Lawrence Road), which we did in June 1932. From then onwards both Nan and I worked damned hard to make our little business pay.
We opened sharp at 7am every morning till 12pm at night, Sundays as well as everyday included. After a few months, as there was then not a lot of opposition, the little business began to pay well and we were well known round all the neighbourhoods and people were heard saying canât you buy it, you go to Mr & Mrs Cowleyâs shop, you can buy it there, and they did get it. So every time we went out we were known and liked everywhere with children and grown-ups. But alas, once again in 1941 while the second war was on, our good fortune and luck vanished again through a fault in the electric wiring catching alight and setting fire to house and shop. It was a good job a noise awoke Nan about 2am on a Sunday morning and we just got out safely in our bedclothes as the flames were spreading everywhere. Our cat was burnt to death and our dog was missing 2 or 3 days before he came back. The worst loss was through not being properly insured. We lost nearly ÂŁ1,000 pounds as well as clothing and etc.
Now began again the struggle from scratch to keep living and paying expenses etc. However, very slowly with hard work and little profit we began to get on our feet again and after a few more years began gradually to make the business going again up to the 1960âs; and then came bad luck again as the great big multiple and chain stores started opening everywhere and I simply could not compete against them as they were selling all goods miles below the wholesale price I had to pay for them, so I could not blame any of my customers buying their goods at those shops instead of mine as they could buy them about a third less money to what I could sell them. So I started losing money again and could only keep open by selling little odds and ends that other shops did not sell and lastly came the greatest blow of all when we were told by the Borough Council our house was on the list to be pulled down under the New Land Development Scheme. (Their house was demolished to make a park) This really was the end and our greatest worry as we both then were getting old and in our 70âs. However, God has been good to us all our lives and the Town Council bought our shop and house and land and the money just about paid for our new house with just a little over but not much to live on.
Well Andrew, thatâs about the lot and if you want three little mottos to live on, here they are:
.
- No 1. Whatsoever a man soweth, that he also shall reap.
- No 2. Nil Desparandem.
- And ... (I think the best of the lot) No 3. Amor Vincet Omnia
Nurse Marjorie Kathleen Cowley
My grandmother Marjorie Kathleen Cowley apparently nursed at The Grange Hospital at Southport. I have photographs of her in uniform but no nursing organisation can identify it. She married my grandfather in 1918 at Ormskirk. I am trying to discover information about The Grange Hospital at Southport.
Pte. Thomas Cowley
British Army 6th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Coundon
Thomas Cowley served in France from 19th of April 1915 until he was honourably discharged on 19th of November 1917, aged 40.
Rflmn. Bernard William Kingsbury Cowling
British Army 2nd Btn. Rifle Brigade
from:47 Wyndham Road, Salisbury.
(d.24th Apr 1918)
Bernard Cowling was killed in action, aged just 18, on 25th of April 1918, on the Somme, when the German attacks of Operation Michael during that harrowing spring were finally brought to a halt. He was initially buried on the battlefield but was exhumed in 1919 by an Australian Graves Unit and re-interred in Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux. Bernard was the son of a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, Benjamin Isaac Kingsbury Cowling, and in his short life had lived in several areas in England. He was educated at the Redditch Secondary School, Worcestershire (now Trinity High School and VIth Form Centre) and Kingswood School, Bath. He enlisted in Guildford, Surrey.
Cpl. Frederick James Cowling
British Army 9th Btn. Suffolk Regiment
Frederick Cowling served with the 9th Suffolk Regiment.
L/Cpl. Robert Gutteridge Cowling
British Army 4th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment
(d.15th Oct 1915)
Robert Cowling enlisted into the Army at the Magazine, Leicester, on 31st of August 1914. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, part of the Territorial Force. His medical card records that he was 18 years, 6 months and 11 days old on the day of enlisting, that he was 5ft 8 inches in height and weighed 10 stone and 9 pounds. The records also reveal that he had a tattoo on his left arm and that he was an apprentice in the boots and shoes trade.
Robert's war record shows that he was posted to France on 25th of June 1915 and that he was promoted from Private to Lance Corporal on 9th of August 1915. He was wounded and admitted to the Field Ambulance at Fonquieres on 14th of October 1915 and died of his wounds at 7.25am on 15th of October 1915.
He was posthumously awarded the Star British War Medal Victory Medal. His remains are laid to rest at Sailly Labourse Communal Cemetery in France.
Pte. John Varley Cowlishaw
British Army 8th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment
from:Small Heath, Birmingham
(d.3rd July 1916)
John Cowlishaw died on the 3rd July 1916, aged 26. Buried in Plot I. B. 85 in the Norfolk Cemetery in France. Previously he had been wounded at the Dardanelles. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Cowlishaw of Bradford, Yorks; husband of Annie Cowlishaw, of 207, Somerville Rd., Small Heath, Birmingham
Capt. Cowper
British Army No. 16 Stationary Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps
Albert George Harry Cox
British Army Remounts Army Service Corps
from:Lingfield, Surrey
My grandfather was born on 10 Mar 1894 in Chailey, Sussex. He enlisted into the Army Service Corps Remounts at their depot in Swaythling, Kent on 27th Oct 1915 Aged 21. I have no further history of his Army career, medals awarded or theatre of service. My grandfather died in Lewes in 1983.
Rflmn. Albert Edward Cox
British Army 14th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:Croydon, Surrey
(d.21st April 1917)
Albert Cox died on the 21st of April 1917, aged 19. Buried in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in France, he was the son of Fred and Annie Cox, of 123 Whitehorse Rd., Croydon, Surrey.
Pte. Alfred James Cox
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. Arthur Howard "Howard" Cox
British Army 15th (1st London Welsh) Royal Welsh Fusiliers
from:London
(d.7th Sep 1918)
Arthur Howard Cox, known as Howard, was born August 1879 in Bloxwich, Staffordshire to Joseph and Tryphena Cox. He was the middle of 11 children and my great grandfather was his brother. Nothing of his childhood is known and he never married. Prior to joining up in November 1918 he was a porter and lived in Middlesex Street (Petticoat Lane) London.
On 14th November 1914, at the age of 36 years and 3 months, he joined the 15th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, known as the 1st London Welsh, in Poplar, London. At that time, he was just under 5ââŹâ˘3ââŹÂ, with brown hair and blue/grey eyes. Sadly, we do not have a photo of him. From the autobiography of ââŹĹThe Lousier WarââŹÂ by W A Tucker, who was recruited at the same time into the 15th Battalion, ââŹĹthe Unit assembled every day in the grounds of Grays Inn, London and we all returned to our homes every night. To recompense for this burden on our private finances our pay was (temporarily) raised to three shillings (15p) a day. The basic pay was one shilling (5p) a day.ââŹÂ After a month of practice in London he transferred to Llandudno in North Wales where the recruits were billeted in hotels and boarding houses. According to W A Tucker ââŹĹThey occupied ordinary bedrooms and were catered for by the hotel waitresses and general staff.ââŹÂ He later moved to Winchester until December 1915 before marching to Southampton and shipping out to France.
He was involved in various actions on the Western Front, surviving the shambolic battle of Mametz Wood (10th-15th July 1916) on the Somme, where all the officers were killed and soldiers fired at each other in the confusion of the trees. After Mametz the battalion moved, arriving eventually at Ypres in November 1916. He was either gassed or wounded (or both, according to a letter from his father) in action as he returned home on 28th November, whilst the battalion remained in Ypres.
Whilst recovering, he was posted to the 2/5 Battalion and was based in Westleton, Suffolk. On 9th March 1918 he was transferred to 23rd Battalion (territorial force) Cheshire Regiment. The 23rd Battalion was made up of men who were either stunted in growth or who were not fully fit eg. wounded or gassed (as had Howard). In May be was again shipped out to France, serving in B company under 2nd Lt. VRW Campbell and was involved in trench digging.
From biography of Thomas Burke, killed the same day as Howard "On 6th September, Thomas and his comrades were in front line trenches at the Pont de Nieppe, in northern France, near the town of Armentieres. Nieppe had been lost in the German attacks of the spring of 1918, but had been retaken on 3rd September. During the day, they were relieved by the 13th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. The Battalion's War Diary notes that HowardââŹâ˘s "B" Company had difficulty in "extricating themselves from their positions" and their acting company commander, 2nd Lt. V R Campbell, was killed.
The Battalion then moved back to billets at Lupin Farm near Grand Beaumart. During the evening, a party of stretcher bearers under the Battalion's Medical Officer, Lieutenant Phibbs, managed to bring in several wounded from the area. About 5pm on the 7th, there were several fruitless attempts to recover the body of Lt. Campbell which was, presumably, still lying in the open. His body must have been recovered sometime later as he is buried at Pont-de-Nieppe Cemetery where his grave is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The War Diary records that eight soldiers had been killed and another three were missing on 7th. Arthur Howard was one of these casualties. His is the only Cheshire Regiment burial in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France.
He was 40 when he died on 7th September 1918, one of the many unsung heroes of WW1. May he and his many comrades all rest in peace. He is honoured and remembered by his Cox family.
Pte. Charles Cox
Australian Imperial Force. B Coy. 37th Btn.
from:Brent Knoll, Somerset
(d.10th Feb 1918.)
I have researched my Gt Uncle Charles Cox for several years. In the 1911 census he was a farm labourer in above village. I have photo of him as a boy soldier in 7th Battalion Princess Royal Hussars uniform with his brother at Dover in 1900/2 but cant trace any early service history. The war memorial in this village gave AIF after his name, leading to my download of his A.W.M. service record. The roll of honour lists him as Australian so did he obtain Citizenship before joining up in Melbourne on 21st Feb 1916. As Bulford Camp Salisbury Wiltshire was the training grounds for his Battalion, why did he travel to Australia to join up in Melbourne, only to be shipped back in 1916 to uk and then France almost immediately? His records show him as a Transferee, but again no details. I have been to the Army records office, no answers. Also to the Imperial War Museum in London, where a book on 37th Batt gave details and map of the actual raid in which he died. This raid has been recorded in CW Beans War Diaries of History of 37th Battalion AIF at La Basse VilleWarneton. It quotes 2 Australian soldiers captured and divulged no info. A German order copied and distributed throughout the Australian Corps as an example of their Fortitude. Who were these 2 men and were they named and decorated? On this very site Awm4 23/54 Feb 1918 lists C. Cox 554 as a batman I see, so will have to research that. These writers deem this raid to have been of great importance, yet I have found very little credit or mention given between battle of Messines, Passchendale and the spring offensive! Only 5 or 9 men are reported as missing , presumed to have died, yet many enemy killed and captured, perhaps is why. I am keen to visit Plugstreet and search for this site.
Sjt.Mjr. Charles Cox
British Army 1/7th Btn. Duke of Wellington Regiment
(d.5th Aug 1916 )
I have a photo of my Grandad's Brother Charles Cox, taken in 1913 in Huddersfield. On the rear of the photo, my Grandad has written, "Brother Charles, taken in Huddersfield 1913. Band of the 1/7th D.W. Regiment". I'm currently researching my family history, if anyone can provide any further details, I'd be very grateful
Research Notes: Charles Cox, born in Harston, Cambridge. Lived in Yorkshire. Killed in action 5th August 1916 in France / Flanders. He was most likely serving as part of 147th Brigade and killed at the Battle of the Somme which commenced July 1916. Band members traditionally act as stretcher bearers on the battlefield.
Pte. Charles Frederick Cox
British Army 8th Btn. West Surrey Regiment (Queens)
from:Cambridgeshire
My grandad, Charles Cox, died before I was born and I've been researching him for the past two years. I only know his military numbers and regiment from his medals card. He came from the fens near Ely, Cambs and then moved to Stapleford, Cambs where he was on the trains at Great Shelford.
I have no joining or leaving dates but he moved to the ASC after the Queens. He apparently spoke of being in the trenches and he is listed as a driver in the ASC with his profession as horse keeper. I am desperately trying to find anyone who knows someone that spoke or wrote of him.
Bmbdr. Charles Winton Cox
British Army 9th Brigade, 20th Bty. Royal Field Artillery
from:London
Pte. Christopher Cox
British Army 6th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment
from:Ampthill
(d.26th July 1916)
Private Christopher Cox, born and living in Ampthill, enlisted Bedford. Served with the 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (service no. 12098),
He died of his wounds on 26th July 1916 in England and is buried in St Andrews churchyard, Ampthill. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill.
Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com
Pte. Ernest Cecil Cox
British Army 8th Btn. Sherwood Foresters
from:Newark
Pte Francis Cox
British Army 11th Btn. Suffolk Regiment
from:London
Francis Cox served with the 2nd and 11th Battalions, Suffolk Regiment.
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