Colin McMillan has provided the following:
Arthur Bowman was born in 1896. He was the son of Fenwick Bowman who, in 1901,was a 45 year old iron moulder. Arthur’s mother was 44 year old Jane Bowman. His siblings were: 24 year old William, a tailor who worked at home on his “own account”; 15 year old Frederick, a green grocer’s apprentice; 12 year old Alexander, a grocer’s errand boy; 9 year old Alfred and 3 year old Frances. Arthur was 5. Every member of the family was born in Morpeth and they were living at 10 Back Riggs at the time.
By 1911 the family had moved to 21 Bridge Street, Morpeth and several changes had taken place: William (34) was still a tailor but now an employer; Alexander (his name is given the female spelling – Alexandra on census return), (22) was a coal miner hewer; Alfred (19) was a tailor and 15 year old Arthur was a barber. Frederick (27) had started his own family and was working as a tram conductor while living at Bournemouth. Tragically, Frances had died on 18th April 1907 when aged only 9, and is buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Morpeth. She was one of two children the family lost up to the time of the census.
Arthur Bowman enlisted at Alnwick and served with the 1st 7th Battalion (Territorials) Northumberland Fusiliers and died on 14th November 1916 in the France and Flanders Western European Theatre of War.
Morpeth Herald 19/01/1917 carries the following:
Mr and Mrs Fenwick Bowman, 21 Bridge Street, Morpeth, have received official information that their youngest son, Corporal Arthur Bowman, N.F., is missing since 14th November, 1916.
Morpeth Herald 14/12/1917 carries an obituary:
We regret to have to announce the death of Corporal Arthur Bowman, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Fenwick Bowman, 21 Bridge Street, Morpeth.
He was a bright and cheerful lad, and was educated at St James’s School, Morpeth, under Mr W. Bullock. He then served his apprenticeship with Mr J. Myers and Mr W.E. Rutherford, hairdressers, Morpeth.
He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers on Sept. 5th, 1914, went to France on April 20th, 1915, was wounded in June 1915, and again on Sept. 15th, 1916. He had just returned to his battalion and shortly after going into action on November 14th, 1916, he was reported missing.
He was a member of the Boys’ Brigade, where he rose to the rank of sergeant, and also a member of St. James’s Church Institute.
Some of his ancestors fought at Waterloo and in the Crimea and at the siege of Sebastopol, while one of his brothers was in the Boer War. Another brother is now in Mesopotamia.
A letter of sympathy was sent along with the report of his death from the King and Queen.
ROLL OF HONOUR
BOWMAN.- Missing since November 14th, 1916, now officially reported killed, Corporal Arthur Bowman, 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, the beloved and youngest son of Fenwick and Jane Bowman, 21 Bridge Street, Morpeth.
Arthur Bowman is remembered in Morpeth on M17.01, M17.09 and M17.29 and in the Battalion History
