Linda Gowans has submitted the following:-
Joseph was born in 1883 in West Wylam. In the 1891 census he was at Empress Street, Monkwearmouth, with parents William, a coal miner from Carville, and Mary from Framwellgate Moor, plus four older siblings. The 1901 census showed Mary as a widow, with three children at home including Joseph, Commercial Clerk, and Phoebe, Dressmaker.
Joseph attended Bede Collegiate School in Sunderland leaving in 1898.
In 1903 Phoebe married Ralph Atchison Willis of 70 Cleveland Road, Clerk for a rope manufacturer – leading to Joseph’s connection with St Gabriel’s parish, for in the 1911 census he and his mother are with Phoebe, Ralph and their six-year-old daughter Margaret at 4 Chatsworth Street. Joseph was a Commercial Traveller for a firm of brewers.
Joseph joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, and went to France on May 21st 1915. At an unknown date he was promoted from Gunner to Bombardier. On September 27th 1917, presumably on home leave, he married Gertrude Copley. A notice in The Sunderland Daily Echo for 28 September reads:
At St Gabriel’s, on the 27th inst., by the Rev. A. MacCullagh, M.A. (Vicar of Christ Church), Bombardier Joe Cowey, R.G.A., B.E.F., youngest son of Mary and the late William Cowey, to Gertrude, youngest daughter of the late John and Ann Copley, of Streatham Hill, London, S. W. (By special licence.)
The marriage certificate showed that he was a 33-year-old bachelor, of 199 Chester Road, son of William Cowey, Mining Engineer (deceased), and she was a 38-year-old Spinster, of 55 Downton Avenue, Streatham, London S.W., daughter of John Copley, Hotel Proprietor. Maud Gertrude Copley was born in Kensington in 1874 (not 1879!). At 16 she was a Dressmaker and Milliner, later a Draper’s Assistant. During WW1 Miss Copley was a Staff Nurse in Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve). Did she work at the wartime hospital in St Gabriel’s Hall, and is that how she met Joseph Cowey?
Joseph died of wounds in France, less than three months before the war’s end. He was one of three members of the Sunderland Branch of the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers’ Association who were killed during World War 1.
The CWGC record states he was the husband of M. G. Cowey, of 59 Morshead Mansions, Maida Vale, London.
Probate Records give The Kings Head Hotel, Chester-le-Street as Joe Cowey's address confirming he died 29th August 1918 on active service leaving his effects of £709 7s 1d to Gertrude Maud Cowey, his widow.
Rev. David Youngson has submitted the following:
44965 Corporal COWIE Joseph
Army Records list him as Joe COWEY
Royal Garrison Artillery 14th Heavy Battery
He was born at West Wylam, Northumberland and was a Clerk. He was Initiated into Wearmouth Lodge No 2934, Durham on the 14th October 1907; Passed 11th November 1907 and Raised on the 13th December 1907, resigning on the 4th November 1911. He was a Joining Member of Palatine Lodge No 97, Durham on the 14th December 1911. He died of wounds on the 29th August 1918 aged 36. The husband of M.G. Cowey of 59 Morshead Mansions, Maida Vale, London. He is buried in Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, Somme, France, Grave Reference V.E. 17.
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 17/01/1920 reports a "Recognition Dinner" for the Sunderland Branch of the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers' Association. Mention was made of Mr. Joseph Cowey as being one of three members who were killed during the war.
Joseph Cowey is remembered at Sunderland on S140.005, S140.009, S140.010, S140.017, S140.048 part 7, S140.057 and S140.082 at Chester-le-Street on C105.01, C105.12, C105.15 and C105.40
Joseph Cowey is also remembered in the Masonic Roll of Honour as Cowie and Rev Youngson's Roll of Honourpart 1 and part 3
