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Robert Bowers (1883-)


From Sacriston, served with 1st/8th Battalion DLI, prisoner of war 1915-1919


Born in Nettlesworth in 1883, at the time of the 1911 Census, Robert Bowers was living with his young family in Sacriston and working as a hewer in a local colliery.

Unlike so many other Great War soldiers’ service records, Robert Bowers’ records have survived. These reveal that he enlisted in the 1st/8th Battalion DLI – his local Territorial Force battalion – in Durham on 16 September 1914. After training, 8/2747 Private Bowers sailed with his battalion to France in late April 1915 and within a week had been wounded and taken prisoner in the fighting east of Ypres.

Robert Bowers spent the remainder of the war in a German prisoner of war camp. During his imprisonment, Robert was injured whilst unloading a wagon and the harsh winter conditions of early 1919 gave him rheumatism.

After his release from the German POW camp, Private Bowers was finally discharged from the 5th (Reserve) Battalion DLI in March 1919 and was granted a disability pension.

Nothing else is known about this soldier.

Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert

Birth date: 1883

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 192 Staffordshire Street, Sacriston (1911 Census).

Family: 1911 Census: Wife, Lily Bowers, born 1885; plus two young children.
His 1914 service papers list four children – Nellie born June 1905; Jane born July 1907, Thomas born August 1912; and Mary Ann born October 1914.

Military service:

8/2747 (later 300417) Private, 1st/8th Battalion DLI, 1914-1919; prisoner of war 1915-1919.

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Gender: Male

Contributed by Sacriston Heritage Group | Durham County Record Office. Jack Mulligan and Lewis Cooper

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