LOCAL AND GENERAL
Private Henry Bowie was home on final leave this week and returned to camp on Thursday morning.
Don't be anxious, little mother!
All your needless fears dispel;
Tho' your darling seems to smother
In the morning she'll be well.
If you keep her warm and cheerful,
And all home-made dopes adjure —
Don't be timid, tired and tearful:
Give her Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.
Yesterday's casualty list... -Tuapeka Times, 1/9/1917.
LOCAL AND GENERAL
Before returning to camp last week Private Henry Bowie was presented by the Lawrence Patriotic Committee with a pocket diary as a slight token of appreciation from the citizens of Lawrence. -Tuapeka Times, 8/9/1918.
Lance-Corporal C. Brent: I am just sending a few lines to thank you for your most welcome parcel which arrived safe and sound. Any eatables are welcome here as our rations are not too large and we can only buy lozs of cake or biscuit per day, and sweets are unobtainable. The socks were most welcome, too, as winter here in England has been very cold and wet. Have met quite a number of boys from Otago Central among whom were P. Hocking, Jack Orr, Ted Holloway, Henry Bowie, and Pat Mooney. They were all looking quite well and fit. Peter Hosking has since gone to France. Pat Mooney and I have visited some of the villages round here and a few Sundays ago we had tea with Jim Beattie who is in the Anzac Police. He was looking very well. The 33rds have arrived here but I have not seen anyone yet, as they are camped a few miles from here. -Cromwell Argus, 22/4/1918.
Henry was in the 2nd Battalion of the wellington Infantry Regiment. Here is the official account of the Battalion's actions on the day he died:
It was fine and misty on the 29th, when the First Brigade's share in the attack was launched by 2nd Wellington on the right, and 1st Auckland on the left. The operation was carried out with splendid dash by all ranks. Shortly after 5 o'clock, our men were down in La Vacquerie Valley and pushing up the slopes of Bonavis Ridge. One of 2nd Wellington's companies being held up by machine-gun fire at close range, Lieut. D. G. B. Morison crawled along a sap and threw bombs into the enemy post, and so enabled his platoon to advance above ground and capture the enemy gun and crew, although he himself was wounded.
The First Brigade front was now re-organised for, owing to the darkness and unexpected swiftness of the advance, battalions were a good deal intermingled and disorganised. The two original assaulting battalions (1st Auckland and 2nd Wellington) assumed responsibility for the front line and pushed out strong patrols to the St. Quentin Canal. Later in the morning, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki Companies of the 1st Battalion were sent forward to fill up a gap between the two front line battalions and remained there until relieved during the evening. By noon on the 29th September, the whole of our gains were well consolidated.
After the objective had been reached, it was discovered that a party of nine of our men had pushed forward and was practically surrounded by the enemy. On his own initiative, Corporal T. R. Crocker worked his way forward and reached the party of which he took command, and, on his way back, mopped up such of the enemy as came in his way, capturing four, killing three, and inflicting heavy casualties on the rest.
It had been a day of wonderful success for the First Brigade. Our fellows practically over-ran the enemy to a depth of four thousand yards. 2nd Wellington alone captured 285 prisoners, 20 field-guns and 29 machine-guns while its casualties were only 43. Two officers in Lieuts. J. R. Taylor and D. G. B. Morison had been wounded, and Lieut. W. Carruthers, who had returned to the battalion with his commission only a fortnight before, had been killed. -The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914-1919.
Private Henry Bowie's life was part of the butcher's bill paid for "a day of wonderful success."
ROLL OF HONOUR.
PRIVATE HENRY BOWIE. On Monday morning Mrs Bowie, Hill street, received the sad tidings that her oldest son Private Henry Bowie, who left with the 30th Reinforcements, had been killed in action in France on the 29th September. The deceased who was 21 years of age, was born in Cromwell, and with his parents came to Lawrence some years ago when his father took over the business previously conducted by Mr A. S. Askin. He attended the Lawrence District High School where he finished by passing the Public Service Entrance examination, subsequently accepting a position in the Education Department, Wellington. He was a fine manly youth with a pleasant and likeable disposition, and during his residence in Lawrence popular with all who knew him. In their sad bereavement Mr and Mrs Bowie and family have the sincere sympathy of this community and of Otago Central where the family have been so long resident and arc so highly esteemed. -Tuapeka Times, 16/10/1918.
BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING.
The ordinary meeting of the Lawrence Borough Council was held on Monday night. Present—The Mayor (Mr Winn), Crs. Leary, Christie, Thompson, Munro, Arthur, and Edie. Apologies were received for the absence of Crs Simpson, Finlayson and McKinlay.
SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCE.
On the motion of the Mayor, it was resolved to record on the minutes the Council's sympathy with Mr and Mrs Bowie on the loss they had sustained through the loss of their son Private Henry Bowie, news of whose death on the battlefield had just been received. -Tuapeka Times, 16/10/1918.
The Empire’s Cause.
Extreme sadness was again cast over the town on Monday last on receipt of the news that another well known local family—Mr and Mrs H. Bowie—had suffered the loss of their eldest son, Priv. Henry Bowie, in the great struggle on the West front. The deceased soldier was born at Cromwell, and received his earlier education at the Cromwell Public School. Later, with other members of the family, he resided at Lawrence and was a pupil of the Lawrence High School. Following school days he accepted an appointment with the Education Department at Wellington, and enlisted on attaining military age. Of late years he was the only member of this esteemed family who has not been intimately associated with the town of his birth, but was always spoken of in the highest terms by those who had his acquaintance. As a mark of respect flags were flown on the public buildings in the town. We join with the community in extending our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family. -Cromwell Argus, 21/10/1918.
Cromwell Borough Council
Before proceeding to the business the Mayor referred to the bereavement suffered by one of their members, Cr Bowie, whose eldest son had fallen in battle. He moved — That the council expresses its sympathy with Cr Bowie in the death of his eldest son, Henry Bowie, who has made the supreme sacrifice for his country in France. The motion was acknowledged in the usual manner. -Cromwell Argus, 4/11/1918.
 |
| Cromwell New Cemetery. |
UNVEILING OF MURAL TABLET.
IN LAWRENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
On Sunday last, the 30th November, a mural tablet was unveiled in the Lawrence Presbyterian Church, in memory of the soldiers connected with the congregation who fell in the great war. The Church was very full, there being many visitors, including Sir James Allen and party. The preacher was the Rev. Dr. John Dickie, Professor of Theology in Knox College. The hymns chosen were all very appropriate and a full choir led the service of praise very efficiently. The preacher took for his text, Judges v., 2: "The leaders led, the people offered themselves willing.'' After dwelling upon the splendid service of both leaders and people in the war, Dr Dickie went on to speak of the magnificent services of Presbyterians and of the Presbyterian Church to the Empire on account of their devoted loyalty to the Throne and their sturdy independence. In moving terms he spoke of the terrible sacrifices which the war had entailed, and lauded the spirit which the nation, on the whole, had shown. Before unveiling the tablet, the minister of the Church, the Revd. P. C. Durward, made a few remarks, stating that it contained thirty six names of young men either brought up in the Church, or more or less closely connected with it by residence for a period in Lawrence. It was erected in grateful and loving memory of the men who had been faithful unto death in the great war for freedom and righteousness; and their names were engraven in marble that they might be read by many generations of their children, and might speak of service and sacrifice and heroism. As the Union Jack was withdrawn the congregation stood, and the Minister read the inscription on the tablet: "In memory of our Boys who laid down their lives, for King and country in the great war 1914-1918. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The speaker said that he did not need to read the list of names as they were printed on the hymn sheet put into the hands of each worshipper. The Last Post was then sounded by Mr Perey Browne, a returned soldier, after which Mr Dickie led very solemnly in prayer. The hymns "How Bright These Glorious Spirits Shine" brought to a close a very impressive and touching service. After the service, and in the evening, many people went up to view the mural tablet more closely, and to scan the list of names of Lawrence boys. The tablet is of marble, and is erected on the west side of the Church, in the north or pulpit end, and faces the memorial tablet in memory of the Revd. James Will. It is 5 1/2 feet high and 3 1/2ft broad, and is of very beautiful design. The work was carried out by Messrs Frapwell and Holgate, of Dunedin. Following are the names appearing on the tablet.:—
Major W. W. Turner. Capt. V. G. Egglestone. Lieut R. Egglestone. Lieut. Wm. A. French. Lieut. R. M. Watson. Sergt. John W. Black. Sergt. Jas. G McKay,. Sergt. James Falconer. Corp. P, C. Durward, M.M. Corp. Clarence Gray. Corp. John French. Corp. James A. Walker. Pte. M. Arbuckle. Pte. Ronald Blackie. Pte. Jas. W. Bennet. Pte. Henry Bowie. Pte. Frank Craig. Pte. Albert J. Craig. Pte. J. Cousins. Pte. John D. Durrant. Pte. Wm. J. Durrant. Pte. David McFarlane. Pte. Gordon Grant. Pte. Jas. A. Grundy. Pte. Gordon G. Hay. Pte. Frank Hendry. Pte. Andrew Hunter. Pte. Peter Johnson. Pte. Alex. Percy. Pte. William Rush. Pte. Wm. Turnbull. Pte. Robt. Jas. Tie. Pte. Belford Wightman. Pte. Jas. W. Stewart. Pte. James Wilson. Pte. W, C, L. Campbell.
No comments:
Post a Comment