405366 Flight sergeant Thomas Layton Bowker, 1911-23/10/1942.

Thomas Bowker grew up in Dunback, North Otago and mined in the area in the 1930s, which is when he married.

A wedding of importance in Otago was solemnised by the Rev. Allan Stevely at First Church last evening, the bride being Joan Margaret, only daughter of Mrs Mathewson and the late Mr W. M. Mathewson, of Kokonga, and the bridegroom Thomas Layton, only son of Mrs Bowker and the late Mr T. B. Bowker, of Dunback. Dr Galway played the nuptial music as the guests were ushered to their places by Messrs Leslie and Russell Mathewson and Mr Farnwood Palmer. Mr lan Laing, of Palmerston, and Mr Donald Mathewson were best man and groomsman respectively. The bride, who is small and slender, with fair colouring, wore an Empire gown of parchment-coloured satin, moulded to the figure and having wrist-long sleeves. From the shoulders a train of lame lined with shellpink georgette added to her regal appearance, and was softened by a flowing lace veil held to the head with a tiara of crystal. White chrysanthemums in a conventional pattern made a quaintly-attractive bouquet for the ensemble. A small page boy — James Paterson, in a suit of skv-blue velvet with a parchment-coloured blouse — carried the train, and was followed by Misses Mavis Ross (Palmerston) and Violet Davis (Gimmerburn), who, as bridesmaids, wore moulded frocks of sky-blue lace frilled from the knees down, and having rucked berthe collars forming a low peak in the back, and met by the ends of their gold velvet sashes. High bandeaux of natural gold chrysanthemums on their heads matched the flowers in their bouquets. Their gloves were of white kid. At the close of the religious ceremony the guests motored ouf to Cargill's Castle, where they were received by the bride's mother, wearing saxe-blue georgette and lace, and carrying a small bouguet of bronze and yellow chrysanthemums, and the bridegroom's mother, who wore raspberry-red wind-swept velvet, and carried roses in it similar shade. The table was arranged in a scheme of blue and gold. A dance was held at the close of the wedding breakfast, after the bride and bridegroom had left on their wedding tour. The bride travelled in a brown afghalaine frock with a fawn collar, a short brown fur coat, brown accessories, and a smart brown fur-felt hat.  -Otago Daily Times, 5/6/1934.

Thomas volunteered for service in the Second World War in late September, 1939.  He joined the Royal Air Force and was drafted to 218 (Gold Coast ) Squadron, flying twin-engined Vickers Wellington bombers and then the four-engined Short Stirling.

Palmerston Cemetery.

218 Squadron Stirlings began to raid Italian cities in October, 1942, in support of the Allied landings in North Africa.  One of 218's Stirlings was lost on the night of the 22/23 October, falling into the sea off the French coast.  Among the crew of this planes was Thomas Bowker.  He was posted "missing" in December and "missing presumed killed" the following June.  Thomas Bowker lies buried at Abbeville Cemetery.

Photo courtesy of the Online Cenotaph.