Photo Brian Chandler
In Tynemouth Preston Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
In loving memory of
Mary
the beloved wife of
Neal Cowie
who died January 23rd 1907
Aged 44 years.
Also Neal, second son of the above
who was killed in action at the
Battle of the Somme,
Sept. 26th 1916 aged 24 years
Also Harold, youngest son of the above
who died from wounds received
in action on the Ancre
Feb. 5th 1917 aged 23 years.
Neal Cowie,
The dear husband of
Louisa Cowie,
Died June 8th 1935,
Aged 74 years.
“At rest”.
Colin Boyd has provided the following:
Harold was born on 26th February 1894. He was working as a teamer living with his father, Neil, at 6, Northumberland Dock Buildings, Percy Main when he enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers on 5th September 1914.
He transferred to the RNVR on 10th September 1914 and was posted to the Drake Battalion on 3rd November 1914.
He served with them until 10th August 1915 when he was hospitalised with Dysentery. After rejoining the Drake Battalion on 28th February 1916 he served in France until he died of wounds on 5th February 1917.
His brother Neal Cowie also fell.
Harold Cowie is remembered in North Shields on N34.37 and N34.69, in Percy Main on P22.01 and in Tynemouth on T36.14 page 8
