John_Hartley Posted 9 September , 2015 Share Posted 9 September , 2015 Cowpe is one of my 6th Cheshires officers and a Google on his name turns up that the family privately produced a volume about his short life, including his letters home between 1916 and 1917. There were, presumably, not many printed but the Google hit notes that book #74 was auctioned by Bosley's in 2004. I wonder if anyone has come across this volume as it sounds like a lost treasure. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkalotloudly Posted 9 September , 2015 Share Posted 9 September , 2015 i think you will find Dust jacket collector has a copy [not jealous at all] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 9 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 9 September , 2015 Since I posted, I've tracked down that Burnley Library has a copy in its reference section. I'll be making a little research trip in the next day or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust Jacket Collector Posted 9 September , 2015 Share Posted 9 September , 2015 I do indeed have a copy. It's numbered 157 so I suspect maybe 200 copies were printed. There are some 45 pages of his letters from the front plus a short biography and several pages of letters of condolence. If you need me to scan any pages let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 10 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2015 DJC Many thanks for the scanning offer. I'll get back to you if needed. Almost needless to say, it's the letters I'm interested in. 6th Cheshire collections of letters, diaries,etc are thin on the ground - I suppose it's the working class nature of the "other ranks" meant they were not great writers. I'm off to Burnley tomorrow and will see how I get on . John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust Jacket Collector Posted 10 September , 2015 Share Posted 10 September , 2015 No problem to scan the letters if you find the library charge for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 11 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 11 September , 2015 They were only charging 10p a copy, so I've got pretty much all that I need - but thanks again. Some good stuff in there and I reckon I should be able to identify at least some of the men he mentions, but where the names have been removed (I wonder if by a censor or the book's compiler) My only irritation is that, like a complete idiot, I walked out of the pay & display car park without paying. £25 penalty notice just paid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Hoggatt Posted 16 October , 2016 Share Posted 16 October , 2016 Hi, i have just googled George Bleazard Cowpe and come across this forum. George was my great uncle. I have a copy of the book which was given to me by my Uncle a cople of years ago. Last year i went to the Menin gate and laid a wreath in his honour. I will be going back next July with my family as it is 100 years since his death. RIP George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 16 October , 2016 Author Share Posted 16 October , 2016 Welcome to the forum, Max. It's a great little book. George wrote well, I thought. I've included quite a number of quotes in my forthcoming book (due for publication by Pen & Sword in early 1917). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 14 November , 2016 Share Posted 14 November , 2016 My grandfather was the younger brother of George Bleazard Cowpe and we have several copies of the book , both leather bound and plain in the family including no's 1, 7 and 317. We too intend to revisit the menin gate next July to lay a wreath and would be interested to meet other lost members of the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 14 November , 2016 Share Posted 14 November , 2016 PS . A Tommy at Ypres by D. Priddy and W Williamson describes his last day , he was with the 118 brigade. He crossed the Steenbeck river towards St julien their 2nd objective. He went forward with his S. Major and both were killed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 9 May , 2019 Share Posted 9 May , 2019 There is one up for sale on eBay now! Check it out. (Edited by Admin to remove link) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust Jacket Collector Posted 9 May , 2019 Share Posted 9 May , 2019 I see this copy is no. 220 so even more were printed than we originally thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrenchrat22 Posted 9 May , 2019 Share Posted 9 May , 2019 1 hour ago, Dust Jacket Collector said: I see this copy is no. 220 so even more were printed than we originally thought. I’ve got a copy at home, I will look later and see what number I have Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrenchrat22 Posted 10 May , 2019 Share Posted 10 May , 2019 On 09/05/2019 at 08:23, thetrenchrat22 said: I’ve got a copy at home, I will look later and see what number I have Alan My copy is 74. I can’t remember if I purchased it or was a gift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughton Posted 10 May , 2019 Share Posted 10 May , 2019 On 09/09/2015 at 10:49, John_Hartley said: Google hit notes that book #74 was auctioned by Bosley's in 2004 Neat, that was the one mentioned in the first post - the circle was closed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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