BORN HULL 1892. KNOWN AS ‘SONNY’. ONLY SON OF HARRY ERNEST BOWEN (1868-1920) & FLORENCE TAYLOR TULLOCK (1870-1966), OF 647, ANLABY ROAD, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS) AND 34, PLANE STREET, HULL (ARMY ADDRESS). HE HAD THREE YOUNGER SISTERS, HILDA, LILIAN AND ANNIE.
A FORMER FISH PACKER, TRINITY CHOIR BOY AND CLERK. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 11 INCHES TALL, 37-39 INCH CHEST, BROWN HAIR, BLUE EYES.
HE ARRIVED IN NEW YORK, ON 09/09/1912. RETURNED FROM THE USA TO ENLIST IN THE 10TH EYR “HULL COMMERCIALS”, ON 22/03/1915. SERVED IN EGYPT AND FRANCE. PROMOTED TO LANCE CORPORAL.
DIED OF HEAD WOUNDS, AT 42ND CASUALTY CLEARING STATION, ON 10/08/1917, AGED 23. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS FATHER, HARRY.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL (HDM 17/08/1917).
Hull Pals Memorial Post. L/CPL GEORGE ERNEST BOWEN 10/1207. Born 1892 in Hull, the eldest son of Harry and Florence Bowen. George left Hull for America but returned to enlist when war broke out, signing up at Hull City Hall on 22nd March 1915. He gave his address as Plane Street, Anlaby Road and listed his job as Clerk. George went by the name ‘Sonny’ in the trenches, which suggests youthful looks and a certain level of popularity among his comrades. He fought in Egypt and on the Somme before being wounded in the head at Oppy Wood. He was evacuated to 42nd Casualty Clearing Station where he died of wounds on 10th August 1917. George ‘Sonny’ Bowen is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery. He was 23 years old.
