13042, Private, Charles COWELL
Aged 22
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Charles Samuel Cowell was born in Castle Camps on 12th May 1893 (Linton Q2-1893 3B:519} baptised in Shudy Camps on 23rd July 1893, son of Charles and Sarah COWELL
(née REYNOLDS). He is not found as Charles in the census, the family used his middle name, Samuel, no doubt to avoid confusion with his father.
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Castle Camps with his father Charles COWELL [37] yardman on farm, born Castle Camps; his mother Sarah [35]; sisters Jessie [11], and Grace [10] all born in Shudy Camps; brothers Edward [5], Fred [3] and Dan [1] all born in Castle Camps. 1911 census...Aged 17, a farm labourer, he was in Castle Camps with his parents; brothers Edward (farm labourer), Fred, Dan, Stanley [9] and Albert [5] both born in Castle Camps. All nine siblings survive. |
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He enlisted in Linton.
There is a discrepancy between his medal index card who have him as "died of wounds", and his Army "Personal Effects" entry which says death presumed on or since 30th September. "Soldiers Died" says "killed in action". In the second attack of Bellewarde, a counter attack was ordered on the afternoon of the 30th September. An artillery bombardment of the mine crater, which was not very effective, ceased at 3:15 and three companies of the 4th Middlesex, 2nd Royal Scots and the 2nd Suffolks advanced. The commanding officer of "A" Company (Capt E C Smith) was killed immediately, but under Capt. De Castro the attack carried on. Despite heavy machine gun fire and bombing they managed to reach the edge of the crater, but were halted by un-cut barbed wire. 3 more officers were killed at this point and the attackers were forced to withdraw. Amongst the 120 casualties was Charles Cowell. The 4th Middlesex had 17 killed, the Royal Scots 7 and the 2nd Suffolks had 35 killed of which 20 have no known grave and are named on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
