Pte
James Cowley
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1888 |
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Place of birth: Tottington, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 12 Walshaw Road, Bury, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 202777 |
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Enlistment place: Bury, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Lancashire Fusiliers, 1/5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Hill 35, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 29 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XIII Row: C Grave: 39 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
James Cowley was the son of Richard and Ester Ellen Cowley. He was born around 1887 in Tottington, Lancashire. Before the war, he lived in Bury, Lancashire, and worked as a labourer. James enlisted in the British Army and served in the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (125th Brigade, 42th (East Lancashire) Division).
James was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At that time, the battalion was in reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench in anticipation of the start of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies launched their assault. At the same time, Beck House, Iberian, and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Throughout the day, short engagements took place, and there was machine-gun fire, including from Vampir. The attack stalled after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to withdraw to its original line. The right flank was able to hold and consolidated their positions, located between Frost House and Vampir.
James died at the age of 30. After the war, his body was found near Hill 35. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
James was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At that time, the battalion was in reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench in anticipation of the start of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies launched their assault. At the same time, Beck House, Iberian, and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Throughout the day, short engagements took place, and there was machine-gun fire, including from Vampir. The attack stalled after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to withdraw to its original line. The right flank was able to hold and consolidated their positions, located between Frost House and Vampir.
James died at the age of 30. After the war, his body was found near Hill 35. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 3
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1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers war dairy (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95 95/2654/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p.72-73. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462405 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b7bc20c7-716d-4177-87f3-04b27f75df58 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5112011 |