Name
John Edwin Bowes
15 Jan 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/10/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
703643
Canadian Infantry
102nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cockfosters memorials
Pre War
John Edwin was born on 15 Jan 1885 in Cockfosters to David Bowes, a gardener, and Eleanor (nee Ramsey). The Family consisting of Father, Mother, William, Annie, Elizabeth, Eleanor, John Edwin, & Winifred on the 1891 Census were living at Oakfield Cottages, Cockfosters. By the 1911 Census John Edwin was an under gardener and was living with his sister Annie, her Husband George Chidlow, and their son Ira, at 9, Oakfield Cottages, Cockfosters.
At some time (possibly 1913) he migrated to British Columbia. His sister Annie and family had arrived in Canada in April 1912.
Wartime Service
John attested on 15 Feb 1916 (aged 31) in Comox on Vancouver Island, British Columbia for the 102 Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force as Private 703643. He gave his address as Little River, Comox, B.C. His occupation was a carpenter and he gave his Mother as Next of Kin at the address of Uppertown, Wolsingham, Co Durham This was later amended to his sister Annie Chidlow of East Burnaby, Vancouver, B.C. John embarked at Halifax on ‘Empire of Britain’ on 20 Jun 1916 bound for Liverpool, UK, arriving on 29 Jun 1916.
Remaining with 102 Battalion he was posted for overseas service on 11 Aug 1916 and he arrived in France on 12 Aug 1916. 102 Bn. CEF was assigned to 4 Division CEF as part of the Canadian Corps and were deployed to the Somme taking part in the Battle of Ancre Heights (1 Oct - 11 Nov 1916) but when the Canadian Corps were withdrawn on 11 Oct 1916, 4 Division inc. 102 Bn were transferred to II Corps BEF (the Battle of Le Transloy) and final capture of Regina (Stuff) Trench on 21 Oct 1916, which the Canadians had been assaulting since 1 Oct 1916. John died of wounds on 21 Oct 1916, presumably during this attack or the subsequent inevitable German Counter attacks that day. (There appears to be no evidence of Medical treatment in his record.) His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Vimy Ridge Memorial.
Additional Information
102 Battalion CEF was raised and trained in Comox, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. in Aufg 1917 the Battalion was renamed as 102 Battalion Central Ontario Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
