Name
Cyril William Fowler
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/05/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3174
London Regiment *1
1st/23rd (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panels 45 & 46.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon,
St Catherine and St Paul Church Memorial, Hoddesdon,
Separate Plaque in St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon,
Hertford Grammar Memorial - now Richard Hale School, Hertford
Pre War
Born on 25 Nov 1895 in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire and baptised on 19 Jan 1896 in Hoddesdon son of William Jacob (Schoolmaster) and Mary Fowler and living in the School House, Back Lane, Hoddesdon in 1901.
Educated at Hertford Grammar School.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Clapham Junction, London and was killed in action at Givenchy.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's account of "The British Campaign in France and Flanders 1915" sheds some light onto how Private Fowler may have met his death. - "On the evening of 25th May the 142rd Brigade, which occupied the front line trench, was ordered to make an attack on the German line opposite. The first line battalions were the 23rd and 24th, of which the 23rd on the left had 300 yards. of open ground to cross, while the 24th on the right had no more than a 150. Both battalions reached their objectives in safety, and within 3 minutes had established telephonic communication with their supports. The capture of the trenches had not been difficult, but their retention was exceedingly so, as there was a ridge from which the German machine guns commanded the whole line of the trench. Each man had brought a sandbag with him, and officers and men worked desperately in building up a defensive traverse. Three German counter attacks got within 10 yards of the trenches, but all were beaten back. The German hand - grenadiers, however, were deadly, and many officers and men were among their victims." - This was the attack on Givenchy.
Additional Information
Brother of Lance Corporal Wilfred Leslie Brimley Fowler who was killed in action on 12 May 1917 and is also commemorated on these memorials.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Phil Holland
