William Bowman

 

 

1891

Born in Watertown, New York, USA

 

Apr 17, 1911

Enlisted with the PWOR (Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles) number 1448, and assigned to “G” Company

His permanent employment was with the Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston

 

Oct 23, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59085 (temporary number 154)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs. Mary Bowman, mother, 35 Clarence St., Kingston, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Cigar Maker

Ø      Previous military experience given as 3 years in the PWOR (Princess of Wales’ Own Rifles)

Ø      Religion given as Other Protestant

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “A” Company

Ø      He was also employed as a drummer in the Pipe Band 

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter of 1914-15

 

Jan 22, 1915

Sentenced to 7 days Detention

 

Mar 4, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days Detention

 

Mar 13, 1915

Sentenced to 14 days Detention

 

Apr 5, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Detention

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent

 

 

 

Jun 13, 1915

Awarded 14 days Detention and forfeits 1 day’s pay for being absent

 

Jul 3, 1915

Fined $6.00 for Drunkenness

 

 

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

 

Nov 8, 1915

Admitted to No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a sprained ankle

 

Nov 9, 1915

Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at Locre

 

Nov 13, 1915

Discharged to duty

 

Nov 26, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for stealing the property of an officer

 

Jan 31, 1916

In confinement awaiting trial

 

Feb 7, 1916

Sentenced to 3 months in Detention for striking an NCO.  This sentence was commuted to 3 months Field Punishment #1

 

Mar 17, 1916

Awarded 14 days Field Punishment #1 to run consecutive to the present sentence for refusing to obey orders while in Detention

 

Sep 17, 1916

After receiving a shrapnel wound to his left leg, he was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) and admitted to the Military Hospital in Gravesend on arrival in England

 

Oct 28, 1916

Transferred to the Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham

 

Nov 6, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Mar 10, 1917

Posted to the EORD while in hospital

 

May 10, 1917

Discharged from hospital and posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion, Seaford and granted Sick Leave

 

May 20, 1917

Declared AWL when he failed to return from sick leave

 

Jun 2, 1917

Awarded 28 days Field Punishment #2 for his absence

 

Jun 15, 1917

Transferred to the 21st Battalion and while enroute to Folkestone to embark for France, he left the draft and went AWL (Absent Without Leave)

His transfer to the 21st Battalion was cancelled

 

Jul 7, 1917

Court of Inquiry declares him to be illegally absent placed under forfeiture of 21 days pay

 

Aug 16, 1917

Apprehended by Civil Police in Kingston, Surrey, England as an absentee and TOS the 6th Reserve Battalion and held in custody

 

Sep 12, 1917

Sentenced by a District Court Martial to 1 year Detention for Desertion and admitted to the Gosport Detention Barracks

 

Nov 12, 1917

Released from detention for the purpose of proceeding to the front and the remainder of his sentence was remitted

 

Nov 14, 1917

Posted to the 21st Battalion and arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) Etaples and TOS the 21st Battalion

 

Nov 17, 1917

Left the CIBD and joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart

 

Nov 24, 1917

Left the CC Rein C and joined the 21st Battalion in the front lines near Acheville, south of Lens

 

Aug 10, 1918

During severe fighting at Roiseres, Private Bowman received a concussion from a shell explosion and was admitted to the No. 9 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 48 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for additional treatment

 

Aug 11, 1918

Transferred to the No 3 Australian General Hospital

 

Aug 17, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

Posted to the EORD while in hospital

Admitted to the Nell Lane Military Hospital, Manchester

 

Sep 13, 1918

Transferred to the Convalescent Hospital in Epsom

 

Oct 18, 1918

On Command to the 1st CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) for physical therapy

 

Nov 25, 1918

Found to be AWL

 

Dec 23, 1918

Court of Inquiry declares him to be a Deserter and he is SOS 1st CCD and posted to the 6th Reserve Battalion as an Absentee

 

Mar 10, 1919

Tried by District Court Martial at Seaford for 1. Desertion from November 25, 1918 until February 13, 1919 and 2. Being in possession of a pass to which he was not entitled.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 6 months in Detention and forfeits 29 days pay

 

Mar 19, 1919

TOS the EORD from Desertion and attached to the Depot Company in Seaford while in Detention

 

Mar 20, 1919

While waiting for transport to prison, he went AWL and was apprehended March 27th and held in custody

 

Apr 19, 1919

Proceeded to the Wandsworth Detention Barracks to begin his sentence

 

 

 

May 14, 1919

The 6 month detention sentence was cancelled and he was released from Wandsworth Detention Barracks.

 

May 26, 1919

Posted to “W” Wing at Witley pending return to Canada

 

Jun 25, 1919

Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool

An attempt was made to remove him from the ship as he had no documents permitting him to travel to Canada, but the ship sailed before he could be located.

It is noted in his file that the proper documents were sent to Canada aboard the SS Mauretania on June 28th.

 

Jul 2, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

 

Jul 4, 1919

Posted to the Casualty Company.  Shortly after his arrival in Kingston, he was declared to be AWL

 

Jul 9, 1919

Following a Court of Inquiry declaring him to be a Deserter, he was SOS #3 DD

 

Aug 13, 1919

Apprehended and placed in custody.

 

Aug 27, 1919

Sentenced to 46 days Detention for being absent without leave

 

Oct 7, 1919

Discharged from the CEF as Medically Unfit 

Ø      Rank on discharge Private

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 214864

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge 35 Clarence St., Kingston, Ontario

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 18 Smith St., Kingston, Ontario

 

Nov 18, 1919

Married to Johanna O’Neil in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kingston, Ontario

His occupation is noted as Fireman 

In 1934 he was reported to be living in Watertown, New York, USA

 

Mar 28, 1953

William Bowman’s parents died in a house fire in Kingston, Ontario and were buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kingston

The medals that he earned were destroyed in that fire and were replaced July 17, 1961

 


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