Name
Arthur Horace Dowse
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
36378
Royal Air Force
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Arthur Dowse was born in 1896 at Abbots Langley. He was one of five sons and three daughters born to Henry and Louisa Dowse. In the 1901 Census the family lived at King Field Cottages, Abbots Langley, and Henry was employed as a Gas Stoker. By the 1911 Census Henry had died and Louisa was living at 9 Verulam Terrace, Rickmansworth, with three of the children – Arthur, his brothers Frank and William and his sister Florence. Frank also served in the Great War. Louisa worked as Charwoman, and Frank and William both worked as Labourers.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour first recorded Arthur serving with the Royal Flying Corps in August 1916. When the Royal Flying Corps transformed into the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918, Arthur transferred too and was recorded as serving with the RAF throughout the remainder of the War. The Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, both listed Arthur as still serving with the RAF, and provided a home address at 14 Marlin Square, Abbots Langley. Arthur was shown serving with the 9th Training Squadron, with the rank of Air Mechanic.
Arthur’s brother, Frank, served was killed in action with the 4th Bedfordshire’s. Arthur was also related, as a distant cousin to many others of the Dowse family from the local area.
Additional Information
Formerly Royal Flying Corps.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
