Private James Bowler

James was born in Lambeth in 1895. When he was six years old his family were living at 7 Addington Crescent, Lambeth. His father Francis was employed as a Night Watchman, and together with his wife Alice, the couple had two other children - Ivy aged 8 and Margaret just 8 months.

By 1911 the family had moved to 58 Fortescue Road, Mitcham, and the family had grown to include Charles aged 9 and George aged 7. James was not present at the house at the time of the Census. Francis Bowler was now a House Painter, working on his own account.

James joined the Regular Army with the 1st (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) initially with the service number of 5235. He enlisted at Yeomanry House, Handle Street, Bloomsbury. The building was used as a drill hall for the battalion. After training at Albany Barracks, Isle of Wight, the battalion landed at Saint Nazaire, France in September 1914.

James’s battalion would have taken part in the Battle of the Somme in (1 July - 18 November 1916). He was listed as “wounded” on the Casualty List issued by the War office, and as such was entitled to wear a “Wound Stripe”. This was a two inch stripe attached vertically to the left sleeve of the service jacket. The stripe was initially made of gold Russia braid, but later on they were made of brass for easy cleaning.

During the Battle of Arras, on 3 May 1917, the battalion was stationed at Tilloy, France, and took part in the Second Battle of Bullecourt. The battalion’s War Diary records that there was an attack on German lines, followed by a heavy barrage of shelling by the German Army. The next day under Red Cross flags, the German’s were observed collecting the British wounded and taking them into their trenches. Unfortunately, James was one of the soldiers reported Killed in Action. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. He is also commemorated locally on the Mitcham Memorial.