COWELL, Walter George


No.622395, Private, Walter COWELL
Aged 24


27th Battalion (City of Winnipeg), Canadian Infantry
Killed in Action on Sunday, 11th June 1916


Walter George Cowell was born on 8th July 1891 in Tottenham (Edmonton Q3-1891 3A:332), son of Walter and Catherine COWELL (née WALLIS).

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Castle Camps with his father Walter COWELL [45] farm labourer; his mother Catherine [41] both born in Castle Camps; sister Charlotte Elizabeth [15], sister Catherine [8 and ]brother Clement [6], all three born in Tottenham; brother Ernest [2] born Castle Camps.

1911 census...Aged 18, a farm labourer, he was in Castle Camps with his parents (father now roadman); brothers Clement (stockman on farm ) Ernest and Harold [3} born Castle Camps. 3 of the 10 siblings had died.

He may well be the Walter George Cowell who sailed from Bristol to Halifax on the SS "Royal Edward" on 5th April 1911. This same ship was torpedoed, with great loss of life, in the Mediterranean in 1915.

His brother Clement died of his wounds in the same unit near Mount Sorrel a week later. see here



Walter and his younger brother Clement, enlisted together, they have consecutive Army numbers. Being in the same battalion throughout, Clement died of wounds received on 13th June on the day of the successful attack at Mount Sorrel.

Canadian Archives:- RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2072-36 Item Number: 121857 He attested in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, on 21st April 1915. He gave his date of birth as July 8th, 1891, a labourer, born in Tottenham, England, father Walter Cowell of Castle Camps. He was 5 feet 8 inches (172.7 cm)tall, weighed 140 lbs (68.7 kg), chest 32" to 36.5" (81.3 to 92.7 cm), blue eyes, brown hair, Methodist.

He sailed from Halifax aboard the SS Lapland on 23rd October 1915 with 44th Battalion, arriving in England on the 30th. A period of intensive training followed. He was promoted to Corporal on 11th February but at his own request reverted to Private (perhaps to stay with his brother), before he was despatched to France on 15th April 1916 and transferred to the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion. He joined them in the field on 6th May and then in the Battle of Mount Sorrel he was killed in the trenches at Maple Copse on 11th June, but has no record of burial.



The area of the Mount Sorrel battle


The Germans sent down a heavy barrage on the British lines after the unsuccessful Allied counter-attack in early June, but a 2nd counter attack, which was successful, was being organised for the 13th June. It seems this barrage was responsible for Walter's death at Maple Copse. The cemetery here incidentally is one of the nicest in the Salient and very well worth a visit. Walter however was never identified. In fact most of the graves at Maple Copse are unknowns.
Between 2nd and 14th June 1916, the Canadian Corps lost a total of 73 officers and 1053 other ranks killed; 257 officers and 5010 other ranks wounded; 57 officers and 1980 other ranks missing, a total of 8430.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Walter Cowell is commemorated in the Menin Gate, Ypres panels 24-26-28-30

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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