Name
James Bowler
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/02/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
202150
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
17th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PONT-DU-HEM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE
III. A. 3
France
Headstone Inscription
IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE FROM MUM, DAD, SISTERS & BROTHERS R.I.P.
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Not on the Letchworth memorials
Pre War
We know that James was the son of James and Mary Bowler with the addresses of 11A, Bridge Street, Hitchin (military pension records) and later 89, Campers Rd, Letchworth (CWGC records). We believe that Mary was known as Polly, and that is the name that is given in the census. This confirmed by the fact that in 1911. James and Polly were living at the above Hitchin address.
In 1901 the family were found at 7 Lyles Road, Hitchin. Parent were James (44), working as a local road labourer and Polly (39). Their children listed as Edith (born 1885, laundry maid), Florence (born 1888, laundry maid), William (born 1889), Elizabeth (born 1891), James, Maude (born 1894) and Thomas (born 1896).
By 1911 the family had moved to 11a Bridge Street, Hitchin, with James working as a garden labourer, his wife on home duties. The children present were: Florence (laundry maid), William (blacksmith striker), Elizabeth (laundry maid), James now 17 and working as a paint mixer, Maud paper folder), Thomas (errand boy) and another son Fred (born 1902). It was recorded as they had been married for 30 years with 10 children all living.
Before enlisting in Hitchin, James had been a driver of a Shell petrol cart. Later he worked for Innes & Son & King's engineering works.
Wartime Service
James enlisted in March 1916 and it is suggested that he went to France in June 1916, but this would have been unusually earlier as the usual training period was about 6 months. He was posted to the l/7th Middlesex Regiment which was in the 167th Brigade of the 56th Division and was initially given the number 6012, but later, probably early 1917, renumbered to 202150. He was killed in action.
From the 1st January 1917 the 1/7th Battalion were in trenches at Neuve Chapelle. The circumstances of his death were that he was protecting a party laying out wire when he was hit in the head by a chance shot. He died within two hours and was buried in a little cemetery behind the lines. A cross was put over his grave.
His grave is in Plot III, Row A, Grave 3 at the Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, Nord in France. A private inscription on the stone reads "In loving remembrance from Mum, Dad, sisters and brothers. R.I.P."
After his death his mother received a letter from James’ Commanding Officer. It read “Your son was engaged in protecting a party who were putting out some wire in front of our trenches when he was hit in the head by a chance shot. He only lived about two hours, I was unconscious all the time, so suffered no pain. We have all felt his loss much, as he was a very good soldier liked by officers and men in his platoon. He was buried in a little cemetery a couple of miles behind the line, in a quiet and peaceful spot, and a cross put right over his grave. I cannot tell you the name of the place in a letter, but no doubt when his friends come back on leave they will tell you where it is."
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 7s 6d was paid to his mother. His pension card gives his mother’s address as 11a Bridge Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 6s a 10s was also awarded on 13 January 1918, but to end 10 February 1920. week from 4 September 1917.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
