BOWEN, James

James Bowen was the son of Elijah and Rachel Bowen of 44 Bromley Lane, Pensnett, and worked before 1914 as a loader at Ganner’s pit, Woodside, Dudley. He was an early volunteer for the Worcesters and served in the 1st Battalion. They were very active in several phases of the 1916 Battle of the Somme and in February 1917 followed up the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. In July they moved to Flanders for the start of the Third Battle of Ypres and were involved on the 31st July in the opening advance on 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 counter-attacks took a heavy toll. Among those who died of wounds was Private James Bowen. He was 29 years of age and is buried in Brandhoek Cemetery No. 3 (II B 7) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill, Brierley Hill church and Pensnett Memorials.