BOWEN, James

James Bowen was the son of Elijah and Rachel Bowen of Brierley Hill. He was married with three children and worked as a loader at Ganner’s pit, Woodside. He was an early volunteer for the Worcesters and in 1917 was in the 1st Battalion. They had been very active in the 1916 Battle of the Somme and in February 1917 followed up the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. In July they waited for the start of the Third Battle of the Ypres and were involved in the opening advance on the Westhoek ridge. Gains were made and on the 16th another advance was planned across the Hanebeek. Enemy use of pill-boxes and the tactic of a lightly held front line frustrated the advance and strong enemy counter-attacks took a heavy toll. Among those killed in action was Private James Bowen. He is buried in Brandhoek Cemetery No. 3 (II B 7) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.