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1891
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Born in Watertown, New York, USA
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Apr 17, 1911
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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
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Oct 23, 1914
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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
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Jan 22, 1915
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Sentenced to 7 days Detention
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Mar 4, 1915
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Sentenced to 5 days Detention
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Mar 13, 1915
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Sentenced to 14 days Detention
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Apr 5, 1915
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Sentenced to 28 days Detention
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent
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Jun 13, 1915
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Awarded 14 days Detention and forfeits 1 day’s
pay for being absent
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Jul 3, 1915
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Fined $6.00 for Drunkenness
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the
battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Nov 8, 1915
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Admitted to No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)
with a sprained ankle
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Nov 9, 1915
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Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at
Locre
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Nov 13, 1915
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Discharged to duty
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Nov 26, 1915
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Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment #1 for
stealing the property of an officer
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Jan 31, 1916
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In confinement awaiting trial
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Feb 7, 1916
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Sentenced to 3 months in Detention for striking
an NCO. This sentence was commuted to 3
months Field Punishment #1
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Mar 17, 1916
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Awarded 14 days Field Punishment #1 to run
consecutive to the present sentence for refusing to obey orders while in Detention
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Sep 17, 1916
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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
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Oct 28, 1916
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Transferred to the Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham
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Nov 6, 1916
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Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent
Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom
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Mar 10, 1917
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Posted to the EORD while in hospital
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May 10, 1917
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Discharged from hospital and posted to the 6th
Reserve Battalion, Seaford and granted Sick Leave
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May 20, 1917
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Declared AWL when he failed to return from sick
leave
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Jun 2, 1917
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Awarded 28 days Field Punishment #2 for his
absence
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Jun 15, 1917
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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
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Jul 7, 1917
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Court of Inquiry declares him to be illegally
absent placed under forfeiture of 21 days pay
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Aug 16, 1917
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Apprehended by Civil Police in Kingston, Surrey,
England as an absentee and TOS the 6th Reserve Battalion and held in custody
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Sep 12, 1917
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Sentenced by a District Court Martial to 1 year
Detention for Desertion and admitted to the Gosport Detention Barracks
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Nov 12, 1917
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Released from detention for the purpose of
proceeding to the front and the remainder of his sentence was remitted
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Nov 14, 1917
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Posted to the 21st Battalion and
arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) Etaples and TOS the 21st
Battalion
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Nov 17, 1917
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Left the CIBD and joined the CC Rein C (Canadian
Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart
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Nov 24, 1917
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Left the CC Rein C and joined the 21st
Battalion in the front lines near Acheville, south of Lens
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Aug 10, 1918
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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
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Aug 11, 1918
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Transferred to the No 3 Australian General
Hospital
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Aug 17, 1918
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
St. Denis
Posted to the EORD while in hospital
Admitted to the Nell Lane Military Hospital,
Manchester
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Sep 13, 1918
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Transferred to the Convalescent Hospital in
Epsom
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Oct 18, 1918
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On Command to the 1st CCD (Canadian
Convalescent Depot) for physical therapy
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Nov 25, 1918
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Found to be AWL
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Dec 23, 1918
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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
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Mar 10, 1919
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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
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Mar 19, 1919
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TOS the EORD from
Desertion and attached to the Depot Company in Seaford while in Detention
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Mar 20, 1919
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While waiting for
transport to prison, he went AWL and was apprehended March 27th and held in
custody
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Apr 19, 1919
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Proceeded to the Wandsworth Detention Barracks to
begin his sentence
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May 14, 1919
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The 6 month detention sentence was cancelled and
he was released from Wandsworth Detention Barracks.
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May 26, 1919
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Posted to “W” Wing at Witley pending
return to Canada
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Jun 25, 1919
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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.
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Jul 2, 1919
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and
proceeded to Kingston, Ontario
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Jul 4, 1919
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Posted to the Casualty Company. Shortly after his arrival in Kingston, he was
declared to be AWL
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Jul 9, 1919
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Following a Court of Inquiry declaring him to be
a Deserter, he was SOS #3 DD
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Aug 13, 1919
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Apprehended and placed in custody.
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Aug 27, 1919
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Sentenced to 46 days Detention for being absent
without leave
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Oct 7, 1919
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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
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Nov 18, 1919
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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
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Mar 28, 1953
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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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