Capt
Roy Bowes
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 29/09/1893 |
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Place of birth: Failsworth, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Architecture Student |
Army information
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Country: Wales, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Captain |
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Service number: / |
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Enlistment date: 06/10/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Ashtead, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 15th Bn. (1st London Welsh) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 05/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station, Westvleteren, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 23 |
Cemetery
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Dozinghem Military Cemetery Plot: II Row: C Grave: 18 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Military Cross Medal — 25/11/1916 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
At the time of the Third Battle of Ypres Captain Roy Bowes served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers 15th Battalion, part of the 113th Brigade, of the 38th (Welsh) Division. Late 1916 Roy Bowes, as a 2nd Lieutenant, was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry during a daring raid under heavy fire. Setting a splendid example to his men.
The 38th (Welsh) Division attacked on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, the 31st of July 1917. It advanced in the direction of the town of Langemark, with the 113th and the 114th Brigade. The 115th Brigade was in support. The Welsh managed to take the hamlet of Pilkem and consolidated positions along the stream of the Steenbeek. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers 15th Battalion were in reserve and at the end of the day they positioned themselves at Iron Cross ridge. Their task was to fend off any German counterattack on the positions of the 113th Brigade at the Steenbeek.
On the 1st of August the 15th Battalion remained at Iron Cross ridge. At 3.10 p.m. news reached the Battalion that the Germans were launching a counterattack and a heavy German barrage was put down on the Welsh lines at the Steenbeek. However the Battalion held its ground, taking care of the counterattack. At 9.45 p.m. the 15th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers had to move up to the Green Line, where it was to be in support. Captain Roy Bowes took command of the Battalion and led his men to their new positions just behind the frontline.
The relief was completed by 1.30 a.m. At 2 a.m. Captain Roy Bowes went round to check on the Battalion’s outposts at the banks of the Steenbeek. He was hit by German machine gun fire during this reconnaissance.
Captain Roy Bowes was wounded and he was evacuated to the rear. Captain Roy Bowes died of his wounds on the 5th of August 1917 at a Casualty Clearing Station at Dozinghem, just outside the town of Westvleteren. He was buried at the Dozinghem Military Cemetery.
The 38th (Welsh) Division attacked on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, the 31st of July 1917. It advanced in the direction of the town of Langemark, with the 113th and the 114th Brigade. The 115th Brigade was in support. The Welsh managed to take the hamlet of Pilkem and consolidated positions along the stream of the Steenbeek. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers 15th Battalion were in reserve and at the end of the day they positioned themselves at Iron Cross ridge. Their task was to fend off any German counterattack on the positions of the 113th Brigade at the Steenbeek.
On the 1st of August the 15th Battalion remained at Iron Cross ridge. At 3.10 p.m. news reached the Battalion that the Germans were launching a counterattack and a heavy German barrage was put down on the Welsh lines at the Steenbeek. However the Battalion held its ground, taking care of the counterattack. At 9.45 p.m. the 15th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers had to move up to the Green Line, where it was to be in support. Captain Roy Bowes took command of the Battalion and led his men to their new positions just behind the frontline.
The relief was completed by 1.30 a.m. At 2 a.m. Captain Roy Bowes went round to check on the Battalion’s outposts at the banks of the Steenbeek. He was hit by German machine gun fire during this reconnaissance.
Captain Roy Bowes was wounded and he was evacuated to the rear. Captain Roy Bowes died of his wounds on the 5th of August 1917 at a Casualty Clearing Station at Dozinghem, just outside the town of Westvleteren. He was buried at the Dozinghem Military Cemetery.
Sources 2
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15 Battalion Royal Welsh fusiliers, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2556/1). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 28-29. 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/619977 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=4aa4aed0-2863-453b-9bf2-1060b973e368 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/438356 |