BOWDEN William Gladstone
William Gladstone BOWDEN
Able Seaman, Nelson Battalion,
Royal Naval Division
Died of Shrapnel Wounds Aged 18,
17th November 1916
BATTLE OF ANCRE, THE SOMME
Buried with Honour at CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY,
Son of James and Mrs. J, 4 Rock Terrace
and enlisted June1915.
The local newspaper reported in the Obituary published on 29 November 1916 in the South Wales Daily Post.
‘The young fellow was formerly a Railway Locomotive Cleaner at Paxton Street, Swansea.’
His father served in the Army as a dispatch rider and his brother also served in the Royal Navy during the conflict.
A Letter from Matron of the 49th Casualty Clearing Station, to William's Mother
The Original Letter from Matron
This original letter to William’s mother, was just one of tens of thousands of such letters, which were written to relatives by matron's during and after the conflict, bearing the tragic news.
Contay British Cemetery
Contay is a village on the main road, Amiens to Arras and was the site of the 49th Casualty Clearing Station,
William's WILL
'I give everything to my mother, Mrs. A Bowden'
The letter enclosed with William's Medals, The British War Medal and Victory Medal
William’s youngest sister Mrs Macnamara, was one of several people interviewed, who showed me various documents, including his WILL shown here, which bequeaths ‘Everything to my Mother’. (This type of Will was perfectly legal for serving military). His father also served in the Army and his brother in the Royal Navy.
Documents -
1. - Newspaper report
2.- Letter from Matron, typed
3.- Letter from Matron, original
4.- William's Medal letters and a copy of his 'Service WILL'