Born Long Riston, Yorkshire, 1883. Son of William McDowell (1847-1919) and Mary Ann Davis (1847-1935), of New Rise, Skirlaugh, East Yorkshire. Son of a domestic gardener. He had five brothers and four sisters.
Husband of Lizzie and three children at 62, Hadham Road, Bishop Stortford, Herts, and 82, Milton Road, Grimsby. Married Lizzie Robinson, on 11th March 1908, at Monmouthshire, Wales. Employed as a Gardener.
Enlisted at Bishop Stortford, Herts, on 15/12/1915. Formerly, Northampton Regiment. Transferred to the 6th York & Lancaster regiment. Died of gunshot wounds to the abdomen, on 15/08/1917, aged 34, at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station.
He is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium. Also commemorated at all Saints, New Rise Church, Skirlaugh.
