Carole Fife has provided the following:
Thomas is one of those whose military records have survived. He was born in Longbenton in 1885, the third child of William and Mary Cowans, and his father was a blacksmith. The family lived in Burradon until 1912, with Thomas first working down the pit with his father and then becoming a barman. He married Annie Hartley in North Shields on 4th October 1911, and they had three children, Annie (1912), Robert William (1913) and Dora (1915).
Thomas enlisted in Bedlington on 7th June 1916, leaving his wife to run the Sun Inn where he was the publican. He was then 31 years 8 months old, was 5 feet 7½ inches tall with a 40 inch chest. He served in England from August 2nd 1916 to February 8th 1917 and then went to France on February 9th 1917.
He was killed in action and the London Gazette Supplement of 18/07/1917 records that he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Annie asked that the Medal be presented to her privately rather than there being a public presentation. She was awarded a pension of 26/3d per week for herself and the three children.
Morpeth Herald 05/10/1917 carries a brief obituary:
ROLL OF HONOUR
COWANS.- Killed in action, on September 19th, 1917, Gunner Thomas W. Cowans, M.M., R.G.A., aged 33 years, of [the] Sun Inn, Bedlington.-Remembered by his brother Joe, in France, and his sister Sally, and nephew Jackie Mather Cowans, of [the] Tankerville Arms, Bedlington.
ROLL OF HONOUR
COWANS.- Killed in action, September 19th, 1917, Gunner T.W. Cowans, 113351, R.G.A., dearly beloved husband of Annie Cowans, [the] Sun Inn, Bedlington (late of Burradon Colliery).- Deeply mourned by his loving wife and children and aunt, Annie Hartley.
He is thought to have attended Holystone School.
Thomas William Cowans is remembered at Bedlington on B15.01, B15.02, B15.09 and B15.26 page 23
