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Medal Index Card
Charles Stanley Cowell was born 4th October 1896, at 1 Oswald Terrace, Hylton, Sunderland, the eldest and only son of Joseph Stanley Cowell, [born Sunderland, in 1866, a mining engineer, who later became the Manager of Dawdon Colliery], and his wife Agnes [born 1869 Bristol].
Charles was educated at the Preparatory School, Sadbergh, 1906 then at Haileybury College from 1910.2 to 1915.1. He was the captain of his house, Trevelyan House.
He was part of the Rugby 2nd Fifteen in 1914.
Charles was also a sergeant in the O.T.C. and won prizes for running.
He was on the general List for active service, and was a Recruiting Officer, but never got the chance to serve abroad.
The Newcastle Daily Journal Monday 16/04/1917 reads:-
Lieut. Charles Stanley Cowell whose death has occurred in the Hammerton Hospital Sunderland from heart failure following an operation, was the only son of Mr and Mrs J Stanley Cowell of Vane House Seaham Harbour, and was 20 years of age. He was educated at the Preparatory School Sedbergh and at Haileybury College and obtained a headmaster's nomination for entrance to the Royal Military College Sandhurst but failed the eye sight test. He eventually obtained a commission on the recruiting staff, after trying to get into five or six regiments during the past 18 months. In civil life he was serving his articles with Messrs Monkhouse, Goddard and Co. accountants of Newcastle.
Charles's father was a member of the Centenary Primitive Methodist Church at Bottleworks Road, Seaham. He was a member of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
His record is listed below:- Managers Certificate: 11 June 1891, Certificate Number: 348 (1st), District: East Scotland. First Class Certificate of Competency as a Manager of Mines granted under the Coal Mines Regulation Acts, 1872 and 1887 (35 & 36 Vict. Cap. 76, Sec. 30 ; 50 & 51 Vict. Cap. 58, Sec 23.)
Colliery Staff Positions held, Position Colliery Company, Under Manager: Wearmouth "B", Wearmouth Coal Co. Ltd.
Membership 1896-1897, Institute of Mining Engineers.
Position: Associate; Address: Wearmouth Colliery, Sunderland.
1902, Colliery Staff Positions held, Position Colliery Company, Manager: Hylton, Wearmouth Coal Co. Ltd.
1908, Colliery Staff Positions held, Position Colliery CompanyManager: Dawdon Londonderry Collieries Ltd.
1909 Colliery Staff Positions held Position Colliery CompanyManager: Dawdon, Londonderry Collieries Ltd.
Membership1909-1910, Institute of Mining Engineers. Position: Member; Address: Vane House, Seaham Harbour, County Durham.
1914 Membership 1909-1910, Institute of Mining Engineers. Position: Member; Address: Vane House, Seaham Harbour, County Durham.
1916, Membership 1916-1917, North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers. Position: Member; Address: Vane House, Seaham Harbour, County Durham; Elected: 12 Dec 1908.
1918, Colliery Staff Positions held Position Colliery CompanyManager: Dawdon. Londonderry Collieries Ltd.
1919, Colliery Staff Positions held Position Colliery Company Manager: Dawdon, Londonderry Collieries Ltd.
Membership 1919-1920, North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers. Position: Member; Address: Vane House, Seaham Harbour, County Durham; Elected: 12 Dec 1908
1919-1920, Institute of Mining Engineers. Position: Member; Address: Vane House, Seaham Harbour, County Durham.
With thanks to the Durham Mining Museum
The Newcastle Daily Journal Tuesday 17/04/1917 reads;-
The remains of the late Lieutenant Charles Stanley Cowell, only son of Mr and Mrs J. Stanley Cowell, of Vane House, Seaham Harbour, were interred yesterday at Sunderland Cemetery.
The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was conveyed from the residence to Dawdon Parish Church, where a service was held, the officiating clergymen being the Rev. E. W. Bolland, Vicar of Dawdon. The family mourners were the father and mother. Mr R. E. Cowell (uncle), Middlesbrough; Mr C. Berkley Cowell (uncle), Sunderland; Mr A. P. R. Walker (Cleadon), and Mr F. Walker (cousin).
The military were represented by Lieut-Colonel W. H. Briggs, Major E. Soltau-Symons, and Major Huntley Young. Six officers from the office in which deceased had been engaged as recruiting officer acted as pall-bearers.
Among those also present were Mr and Mrs V. C. S. W. Corbett, Sub-Lieutenant M. A. M. Dillon, R.N.V.R. (representing Mr Malcolm Dillon, who was unable to be present). Miss Dillon, Mrs Bowland, Mrs Parrington, Mrs Squair, Dr J. A. Neilan, Lieutenant R. Grimes, Messrs A. B. E. Blackburn, Sunderland: W.M. Watson, J. W. Hall, W. H. Usher, T. W. Liddell, G. W. Wakefield, J. Swinburn, Jas Bell, J. Hunter, J. Crozier. Mr and Mrs Wikinson, Rev T. Davison, Messrs Jas. Whyte, R. Lawson, and R. Boad, representing the Dawdon Miners' Lodge: Mr and Mrs Davidson, Castletown, and a large number of officials and workmen of Dawdon Colliery. The cortege proceeded by road to Sunderland Cemetery, where the last rites were performed by the Rev Canon Colling and Rev E. W. Bolland.
Charles was the son of Joseph Stanley Cowell a mining engineer who was the manager of Lord Londonderry's Dawdon Colliery 1907-1919.
The Seaham Weekly News Friday 20/04/1917, included the above story but with additional information. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and conveyed from the residence to Dawdon Parish Church where a service was held by Rev. Canon Colling of Seaham Harbour and Rev. E.W. Bolland of Dawdon, the officiating clergy. The hymns, rendered by the choir, included “On the Resurrection Morn” whilst Miss N. Spain sang “O Rest in the Lord”. The address was given by the Rev. E.W. Bolland who asked the congregation to consider the life that had just come to a close. First as an English schoolboy, at public school, entering in full into the activities of school, games and sports. He was captain of the house football XV, a keen runner who won many races; he was the kind of schoolboy that was one of the great assets of English life. Then, when school ended, it was his great wish to come forward and serve and to take his part in this tremendous war. He received nominations, from his Head Master, for Sandhurst but unfortunately his sight prevented him being admitted to the college. Time after time he tried various regiments to serve his country and Rev Bolland remembered the great keenness with which he had come to him and asked him to sign papers or applications for a commission. But active service was not to be his lot, although it was his privilege for a few weeks, to serve his sovereign and in a small way to give service. It was not for him to lay down his life on the battlefields of France as he would have desired but his mortal remains lay covered with the Flag of Honour. Then another side of his life, which was almost an impertinence to enter upon, his home life. He was at all times a loving and unselfish son whose parents could look back at one who had been all that a true son should be. Another life did not come to an end, the body lay there but the soul was not dead. It was a pure clear soul, a soul which hated things that were foul, led a straight life both inwardly and outwardly, a soul that belonged to a true English soldier and a Christian soldier. He thought of him as he knelt in all humility on Easter Sunday, receiving from his hand the greatest gift God had given, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Family mourners included Mr J. Stanley Cowell father, Mr R.E. Cowell uncle (Middlesbrough), Mr C. Barkley Cowell uncle (Sunderland), Mr A.T.R. Walker uncle (Cleadon), Mr F. Walker uncle (Sunderland), Mr Hedworth Walker and Miss Walker cousins. Representing the Military were Lieut. Colonel W.H. Briggs, Major E. Saltau-Symonds, Major Huntley Young, Major Todd, Captain Naisbett. A further six officers, Lieut’s T.M. Greenwood, E Elliott, W.B. Cockburn, S. Bell, J. Hugill, and F.V. Bell, members of the Recruiting Office Staff, with which the deceased was connected, acted as pall bearers. Among others present and those who later joined the cortege at the cemetery were Mr and Mrs V.C.S.W. Corbett, Lieut, N.A.M. Dillon, RNVR, representing Mr Malcolm Dillon who was unable to be present, Miss Dillon, Mrs Squair, Mrs Bolland, Mrs W.M. Parrington, Mrs Streatfield Commandant of Hammerton House, Dr Neilan, Mr A.B.E. Blackburn, Mr and Mrs W.A. Ellis, Rev. C.V. Gee, Mr W.H. Hope, Mr W. Milburn, Mr and Mrs Davison, Mr B. Bell, Mr W. Mahaffty, Mr Blackwell, Mr W.M. Watson, Mr J.W. Hall, Rev. W. and Mrs Wilkinson, Lieut. R Grimes, Mr W.J. Smith, Mr W.H. Usher, Mr F.W. Liddell, Mr James White, Mr J. Palmer, Mr J.W. Wakefield, Mr J. Swinburn, Mr J. Hunter, Mr J. Crozier, Mr T. Davison, Messrs R. Lawson, R Boad representing the Dawdon Miners Lodge and others. The underbearers were J. Turnbull, W. Nash, Jas. Owens, R. Thornton, E. McDonald and J. Carr. At the cemetery the last rites were performed by Rev. Canon Colling and Rev. E.W. Bolland. Floral tributes included one from the parents of the deceased and one from the Commandant and staff of Vane House Hospital.
The Commandant and Officers at Hammerton Hospital beg to acknowledge with thanks the following donations:- In memory of C.C.S. £31.10s: in memory or our colleague, Lieut. C.S. Cowell, from the officers and staff at the Sunderland Recruiting Office. £3 3s: from Major and Mrs Huntley Young, £1 1s, in lieu of a wreath for Lieut. C.S. Cowell.
Some months ago a suggestion was made by the members of the Dawdon Miners Lodge to erect twelve aged mineworkers' homes to the memory of their members who have fallen in the war. The movement was heartily taken up, and since the first meetings the following amounts have been contributed, Lord Londonderry, donation of £100, and sites for the homes, and bricks free of cost: workmen's contributions (since August), £78: Mr J. S. Cowell (manager), £25: Flag Day and subscriptions £87. 3s; total up to date of "£290.3s.
Source : Northern Echo Tuesday 13/11/1917.
He was buried in Sunderland Cemetery on Monday 16th April 1917.
The family by this time were residing at Vane House, Seaham Harbour.
Some sources state that he was in the Royal Flying Corps. He never was in the R.F.C.
Source:- Haileybury & Imperial Service College Register volume 1 1862 – 1911. Page 274.
The photograph is from Haileybury College with thanks. Copyright belongs to Haileybury College
Charles Stanley Cowell is remembered at Dawdon on D41.02 and D41.04