Albert Edwin Bowles was born in 1898 in Catford, London, one of at least seven children of David Inskipp Bowles (1865-1933) and Amelia Bowles née Robeson (1865-1964). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1898 in the Lewisham registration district, London.
In the 1911 census Albert Bowles is shown as a schoolboy, aged 12 years, living in five rooms at 4 Arngask Road, Catford, London, with his parents and three of his four surviving siblings: David Henry Bowles (1896-1966); Edwin Alfred Bowles (1902-1989) and Charles Hubert Bowles (1907-1987). His father described himself as an electro-typer in the printing industry. An elder sibling was Millie Bowles (1891-1922) but she does not appear on the 1911 census return form.
During the First World War he served as a Private in the 6th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry Branch), service number 114735, in France. Having been badly wounded in the legs at the front, he died, aged 20 years, on 23 September 1918 whilst being transported back to the United Kingdom on board HMHS Gloucester Castle. His death was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1918 in the Southampton registration district, Hampshire and he was buried on 30 September 1918 in Plot D, Grave 3178 in the Ladywell Cemetery.
His army effects were sent to his parents on 2 April 1919. His father received £9-5s-5d and his mother received £8-11s-0d. His father was sent his £7-0s-0d war gratuity on 4 December 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
As he has no headstone on his grave he is commemorated as '114735 Private A. E. BOWLES. Machine Gun Corps (Inf), 23rd September 1918 Age 20. Greater love hath no man' on Stone 11 of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Screen Wall at Ladywell Cemetery and as 'BOWLES, A.E.' on both the outside War Memorial and the interior Roll of Honour at St Andrew the Apostle Church, Sandhurst Road, London, SE6 1XD. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the Lewisham War Memorials website and on the A Street Near You website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
