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Remembered Today:

Lieutenant L P Bowen


wpf1958

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I am trying to ascertain the Christian names of Lieutenant L P Bowen who joined the 1st Battalion King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry on 12th February 1916.

 

If anyone could help I would be most grateful.

 

Wilhelm

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The National Archive Catalogue entry for the only likely match for the Medal Index Card for a Lieutenant, (later Captain) Bowen serving with the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry shows him as Lancelot Percival.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1420927

 

There are also long papers for a Lieutenant Lancelot Perceval Bowen, the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1077834

 

Other than the slight spelling differences of the middle name that should be the same man.

 

Hope that helps,

Peter

 

Edited by PRC
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Superb, very many thanks, solved a problem.

 

Most kind of you.

 

Wilhelm

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Lancelot Percival Bowen

 

Born:  14 October 1884 - Ludlow, Shropshire, England

Son of: Percival Bowen and his wife Mary Elizabeth Bowen nee Bragg

Died:  13 June 1957 - Salt Lake City, Utah, US

 

His brother, Gerald Percival Bowen, served in the Royal Navy and died in the UK in 1974.

 

JP

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That's really good information, many thanks.

 

Wilhelm

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Civil Birth Records: Q4 1884, Ludlow, Shropshire. Lancelot Percival.

1891 Census of England & Wales. As Lancelot P., aged 6, born Stoke St Milbro, Shropshire.

Father is Percival.

1901 Census of England & Wales. As Lancelot Percival, aged 16,Pupil at Christ College, Brecon, Breconshire, Wales.

1911 Census of England & Wales. No obvious match and not with widowed mother Mary Elizabeth at Youngs Garden, Burwash, Sussex.

Possiblly on 1911 Census of Canada. Aged 26, (born October 1884) and staying with  married brother. Had been in Canada since 1909. Was English, now shown as a Canadian National. Living in Summerland, Yale Cariboo, British Columbia. However no clear match for brother in the English records.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV95-7WS1

1922 – Contact address for medals – c\o Mrs Bowen, Burwash, Sussex.

28th December 1923 sails from Liverpool aboard S.S. Montcalm to return to the U.S as Lancelot Percival. Last permanent address was Los Angeles. Next of kin Mrs Bowen of Youngs Garden, Burwash, Sussex. Occupation – Accountant. Unmarried. Heading back to Los Angeles. Age 39.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK3T-KFR2

Arrived 6th January 1924 at St John, New Brunswick. Recorded as Lancelot Percival.Stated lived previously in the US for three years, 1920 to May 1923.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK3B-RGHH

Married 27th April 1929 at Salt Lake, Utah as Lancelot P.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MB-9KPF

On the 1930 & 1940 US Census at Salt Lake City as Lancelot.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH6V-96N

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT4F-VQQ

13th June 1957 Death Certificate at Lancelot P.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKDV-WNB9

Headstone as Lancelot P.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/164728

 

Hope that helps – the spelling “Perceval” only seems to crop up in the National Archive catalogue entry for his Officer Service Record in what I’ve been able to find.

 

Cheers,

Peter

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Dear Peter

 

What a fascinating history you have found and I now look forward to carefully going through it all.

 

I much appreciate your hard and careful efforts.

 

Thanks so much.

 

Wilhelm

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There was a Lt Aubrey Percival Bowen who sadly met a tragic end in military barracks in 1908, possible a younger brother ?

Dave

 

From the BNA

THE BARRACKS TRAGEDY

... some time ago met with an injury to his head. Since then he had suffered from pains and sleeplessness. Lieutenant Aubrey Percival Bowen, adjutant of the Ist Shropshire Light Infantry, said on February 19 he occupied quarters immediately under those of Captain ...

Published: Saturday 29 February 1908
Newspaper: Tamworth Herald

 

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38 minutes ago, davidbohl said:

There was a Lt Aubrey Percival Bowen who sadly met a tragic end in military barracks in 1908, possible a younger brother ?

Dave

 

From the BNA

THE BARRACKS TRAGEDY

... some time ago met with an injury to his head. Since then he had suffered from pains and sleeplessness. Lieutenant Aubrey Percival Bowen, adjutant of the Ist Shropshire Light Infantry, said on February 19 he occupied quarters immediately under those of Captain ...

Published: Saturday 29 February 1908
Newspaper: Tamworth Herald

 

 

Reads from those few lines more like he was a witness to the tragedy rather than the poor soul who lost his life. Certainly no likely death record in England & Wales, but that’s an assumption on my part as to where the events took place.

 

The birth of an Aubrey Percival Bowen, mothers’ maiden name Bragg, was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Ludlow District in Q3 1879. That’s the same District and mothers’ maiden name as Lancelot Percival Bowen.

 

On the 1901 Census of England & Wales, there is a 21 year old Aubrey Bowen, an Undergraduate at Oxford University, born Stoke St Milborough, Shropshire, who was recorded in the household of his widowed mother Mary Bowen. From the location and other family members this looks to be the mother of Lancelot.

 

Aubrey is not on the 1911 Census of England & Wales as far as I can tell – but that may depend on where his battalion of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry were serving.

 

There is certainly a MiC for Captain (later Major) Aubrey Percival Bowen, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, plus a 1917 mention in the London Gazette.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1419968

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29886/supplement/31/data.pdf

 

The death of an Aubrey P. Bowen, aged 74, was recorded in the Northampton District in Q4 1953. There is an appearance in the 1953 Probate Calendar which records that an Audrey Percival Bowen of Saint Andrews Hospital, Northampton, died on the 9th September 1953.

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar#calendar

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

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Great stuff, really interesting. Many thanks.

 

Wilhelm

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26 minutes ago, PRC said:

 

 

 

There is certainly a MiC for Captain (later Major) Aubrey Percival Bowen, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, plus a 1917 mention in the London Gazette.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29886/supplement/31/data.pdf

 

 

Born 15 June 1879.

 

His is one in a long list of names in the London Gazette of 01 January 1917 under the heading To Be Awarded The Military Cross.

 

Edit:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1917_New_Year_Honours#Military_Cross_(MC)

 

JP

Edited by helpjpl
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A check of children registered with surname Bowen, mothers maiden name Bragg brings up the following additional candidates for siblings.

 

Mildred Constance Bowen, Kensington District Q2 1878

Leila Mary Bowen, Ludlow District Q1 1881.

Percival Otway Bowen, Ludlow District Q3 1883

Gerald Percival Bowen, Ludlow District Q2 1890

 

I believe “Otway” was the brother Lancelot was staying with on the 1911 Canadian Census, having taken another look.

 

Lieutenant Commander Gerald Percival Bowen, R.N., was Mentioned in Despatches, (London Gazette Supplement, 5th October 1918).

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30936/supplement/11782/data.pdf

 

Looks like his service records start from 1904. DoB 3rd December 1889.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7605241

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8120281

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8123354

The last notes from 1931 refer to him being very suitable for the higher ranks of the Navy.

 

A basic listing of his activities in WW2 can be seen here:

https://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersB4.html

 

It looks like Gerald Percival, Aubrey Percival and Lancelot Percival all went to  Christ College, Brecon as they appear on the College Roll of those who served.

https://www.christcollegebrecon.com/uploaded/documents/about-us/WAR-LIST-WW1.pdf

 

The death of Gerald Percival Bowen, born 3rd December 1974, was recorded in the Mendip District of Somerset in Q3 1974.

Entry on the 1975 Probate Calendar.

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Bowen&yearOfDeath=1975&page=4#calendar

 

Cheers,

Peter

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Dear Peter

 

What a story you have uncovered. Many thanks.

 

Best wishes

 

Wilhelm

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