BORN KNOTTINGLEY, YORKSHIRE 1876. SON OF CHARLES COWARD (1854-1910) AND MARY ELIZABETH FELL (1846-1912). HE WORKED AS AN INSURANCE AGENT. HE MARRIED ADA FIRTH, ON 26/10/1901, AT BRIGHOUSE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL. THEY LIVED AT 211 BUCKINGHAM STREET, HULL AND 60 , HEDON ROAD, HULL, (HIS ARMY ADDRESS). THEY HAD NO CHILDREN.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, ON 14/01/1916, AGED 40 YEARS AND 150 DAYS. MOBILZED ON 26/06/1916. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 8 INCHES TALL, 136 LBS WEIGHT, 35 INCH CHEST, “GOOD” PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. TRAINED AT WITHERNSEA. POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 15/03/1917. HE SERVED AS PRIVATE, 25630, 7TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. WAS KILLED AT ARRAS, ON 12/05/1917, AGED 41. COMMEMORATED ON THE ARRAS MEMORIAL TO THE MISSING. HE HAD SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 1 YEAR AND 119 DAYS. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, ADA. HE ALSO LEFT HER £553 IN HIS WILL AT THIS PROBATE ADDRESS.
BOTH HIS PARENTS WERE DECEASED. HE LEFT BROTHERS, ROBERT AND SETH AND SISTER, MARY
