Name
Henry Bowen
1 Oct 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/06/1917
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Bombardier
201850
Royal Field Artillery
57th T.M. Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ESTAIRES COMMUNAL CEMETERY AND EXTENSION
III. N. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Henry was born on 6 Oct 1883 in Hatfield (baptised on 7 Sep 1884, Frogmore) to George Bowen, a harness maker, and Ann (nee Rumney). On the 1881 census the family of parents, Fred (born 1879) and Agnes (born 1881) were living at Back Street, Hatfield. By the 1891 Census Henry with his mother Ann, Fred, Agnes and Ann (born 1890) were recorded in the Union Lane Workhouse, Hatfield. On the 1901 census Henry is an agricultural Labourer and lodging with the Taylor family in Lemsford, St Albans.
His widowed mother, married John Slaughter in 1908. On the 1911 Census Henry, a general Labourer for a railway company, was living with his mother Ann, John Slaughter (stepfather) at 4 Bury Dell lane, Frogmore, Park Street.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Henry. It is likely that he enlisted in early 1916 as Gunner 201850 in the Royal Field Artillery. Records suggest that he was serving with 57 (West Lancashire) Division, a Territorial Formation. This had 2 Units of RFA – The Divisional Ammunition Column and also W.57 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery and Henry may have served on both.
His division went to France in Feb 1917. The Battle of Messines Ridge took place 7 -14 Jun 1917 and it was during this action that Henry was wounded and he died from his wounds on 16 Jun 1917 at 54 Casualty Clearing Station.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £8 2s 2d was paid to his mother Ann.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes, Jonty Wild
