BORN HULL 1894. THE ONLY CHILD OF JOHN GOWEN (DECEASED) & MARY ANN EARY (1852-1924), OF 5 WASSAND TERRACE, STRICKLAND STREET, HULL. HE MARRIED AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, SCULCOATES, HULL ON 07/07/1915. HIS WIFE WAS PHYLLIS LEE SHOOTER (1894-1969). THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN (GEORGE, BORN 13/01/1916 AND PHYLLIS MAUD, BORN 27/12/1916). EMPLOYED AS A RULLEYMAN. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED WITH THE 7TH EAST RIDING YEOMANRY (TERRITORIALS) ON 28/06/1914. HE ENLISTED AT HULL, ON 26/06/1916, AGED 21 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 9 INCHES TALL, 127 LBS WEIGHT, 37 INCH CHEST SIZE. HE HAD FLOWERS TATTOOED ON HIS RIGHT ARM AND A WOMAN’S FACE ON HIS LEFT ARM. HE SERVED WITH THE 2ND YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT AND WAS KILLED DURING THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE, ON 21/03/1918, AGED 24. HIS BODY WAS NEVER FOUND AND HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE ARRAS MEMORIAL, TO THE MISSING, IN FRANCE. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, PHYLLIS, WHO RECEIVED A WEEKLY PENSION, OF 25 SHILLINGS AND FIVE PENCE FOR HERSELF AND TWO CHILDREN.
