Name
Edward Bowskill
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/11/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
8182
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Edward Bowskill was born in 1886 in Baldock, Herts, the son of William and Elizabeth (Eliza) Bowskill, and one of eight children, although one died in infancy. He was baptised on 18 July 1886 in Baldock.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Coleman's Court, Baldock, Herts, where his father was working as a coachman/groom. They remained in Baldock in 1901 but had then moved to the High Street. By 1911 Edward, then aged 23 had joined the army and was listed as a Private with the Bedfordshire Regiment stationed in Bermuda.
His parents later lived at 69 High Street, Baldock, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin and served with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. His regimental number of 8182 suggests he enlisted in early 1905 and as a serving soldier, he was sent to France on 16 August 1914 soon after the outbreak of the war, arriving at La Havre. At some point he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
He would have fought at the Battles of Mons and Le Cateau in August and the First Battle of the Marne and First Battle of the Aisne in September, followed by the Battle of La Bassee in October.
Edward was wounded during the First Battle of Ypres in November, and although medal index cards and pension records suggest Edward died of wounds on 7 November 1914, he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received pay owing of £6 15s 1d and his mother received a war gratuity of £5. She also received a pension of 12s 6d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
