Robert Humble Bowman (1897-1917)
Birtley and Stanley man served with 5th DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial
Robert Humble Bowman, was born in 1897 in Birtley, Durham; his parents were Joseph Bowman and Dorothy Bowman. By 1911 Robert was living with his older brother and his wife at 28 Long Row in Bewicke, Robert’s brother was working as a coal miner in the local colliery whilst Robert attended School.
In 1915 Robert had moved again, this time to 46 Bircham Street in Stanley, he had aspirations, much like most other young men at the time, to join the Army and he enlisted with the 5th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry on the 11th of May 1915; as a private.
He was attached to the 150th Brigade with the rest of 5th battalion as part of the 50th Northumbrian Division of the Third Army, which took part in many of the major battles of the war; including the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of the Somme, but it would be the Battle of Arras where Robert would lose his life.
As part of the 50th Division, he would have been part of one of the most successful advances of the battle (and the whole war) at the first battle of Scarpe (9-14 April), this was a major success for British forces as it pushed the German Army back over 3 miles. Less successful was the second Battle of Scarpe (23-24 April) as the Third Army attempted to capture more ground. However, heavy resistance meant that this advance came at the price of heavy losses. It is likely that Robert was killed at this stage of the battle as the 50th Division he was attached to suffered major casualties taking the high banks of the Cojeul river.
Private Robert H. Bowman is remembered on the Arras war memorial and his name can be found on Panel Reference: Bay 8. He received the British War medal and Victory medal for his service.
Civil Parish: Oxhill
Birth date: 1897
Death date: 23-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Birtley, Durham (birthplace)
28 Long Row, Bewicke Main (1911 Census)
46 Bircham St, Stanley (Service Record, dated 1915)
Family: Father: Joseph Bowman (1891 census)
Mother: Dorothy Bowman (1901 census)
Siblings: Joseph Harle Bowman (married to Mary Ann Bowman) (1911 census), Thomas Bowman, Mary H Bowman, John H Bowman, Elizabeth Bowman, Margaret Bowman, George Bowman (1891 and 1901 census)
Military service:
Regimental Number: 200862
Enlistment: 11th May 1915 (Service Record)
1st/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Rank: Private (Pte.)
Killed in Action
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, Panel Reference: Bay 8
Gender: Male
Contributed by Daniel Hyatt | carrollhouse41
