Lieutenant Colonel Francis Jearrad Bowker, KIA Help Required Please

[Dazscuba]

I am looking at the below gent 

 

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Jearrad Bowker

Hampshire Regiment

Killed in Action on Friday 21 January 1916 (aged 47)

 

looking for info info on how he died as in some areas in states KIA and others DOW. Can anybody point me in the right direction for a description of the battle and how he died. Letters from his officers to his wife etc?

 

TIA D 

[MaxD]

War Diary - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/7159de0dada542be90ba435daed21b36

 

Max

[corisande]

[corisande]

From Harrow Memorials

 

On the outbreak of the War he rejoined, was made Temporary Lieut. -Colonel and given command of the 1/4 Hants, proceeding with them to India in October, 1914. From India he went to Mesopotamia in 
March, 191 5, and was wounded at Nasariyeh in July, and mentioned in Despatches. He returned to Mesopotamia in November, 1915, and was 
killed at Orah Creek, on January 21st, 1916, in an advance on the enemy position. He was again mentioned in Despatches. 

One of the men of the 1/4 Hants wrote : — 

" The Colonel went into action with his coat over his arm and his stick in 
his hand, as calmly as if he were going to a race-meeting." 

A Captain of the 1/4 Hants wrote : — 

" It was the hardest blow the Regiment could have had, and it will never 
be the same again. . . . One of the finest and best men I've had the 
honour of knowing. I can assure you the whole of his Regiment feels his 
loss most awfully." 

Another Captain of the 1/4 Hants wrote : — 

"Apart from being our CO. every man in the Battalion loved him and 
looked up to him with respect. The example he always set, both in hardships 
and in action — where he was always the coolest and bravest man I have 
ever seen — went far to help us who were new to the business." 

[corisande]

[Dazscuba]

Thank you for the above, is the Reg diary on Ancestry or just NA?

[MaxD]

Only at the National Archives.

 

Max

[Dazscuba]

Cheers Max thought that might be the case