World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
David William Cowe
Forename(s):
David William
Surname:
Cowe
Initial(s):
D W
Service Number:
27679
Rank:
Private
Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 25th (Service) Battalion (2nd Tyneside Irish)
Died:
28/04/1917
Aged:
24
Buried:
Arras Memorial (Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery)
Service History:
Enlisted at Alnwick, Northumberland on 11 December 1915 & joined the Durham Light Infantry (Regimental service #50654). Later transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers.
In April 1917 Cowe's battalion was stationed in the Pas de Calais region of France & took part in the Second Battle of the Scarpe (23-24 April). They were charged with attacking the fortified village of Roeux, east of Arras.
The ground before Roeux posed many difficulties for the British, two of which were the Arras-Douai railway line & the River Scarpe with its surrounding marshland. The British commanders were using this attack to draw German troops away from the failing French attack on the Aisne river.
The British attack on 28 April started at 04:25hrs & immediately encountered heavy machine gun & rifle fire from an unregistered enemy trench & a nearby Chemical Works & other buildings. The battalion on the right was held up after advancing only 150 yards. The 25th Battalion reached its objective on the left flank & commenced to dig-in, but the fire from the enemy trench made this work very difficult, so much so that, after dark, the battalion returned to the original British front-line as it was in danger of being cut off by parties of the enemy who were working round the flanks.
The Battalion War Diary recorded total killed as 5 Officers & 72 Other Ranks, Cowe included.
(Source: 'The Fallen of Embleton 1914-1919'; Written & researched by Terry Howells, Mary Kibble, & Monica Cornall; pp. 30-32)
Background:
Born in June 1893, at Christon Bank, Embleton, Northumberland, the son of William Turnbull Cowe (b. about 1854 at Lowick, Northumberland; in 1911, a Railway Platelayer) & Isabella Cowe (née Athey; b. about 1858).
Three sisters: Eleanor (b. 1884); Margaret (b. 1887); & Jane (b. 1890).
In 1911, Cowe was employed as a Farm Labourer (Carter).
(Source: 'The Fallen of Embleton 1914-1919'; Written & researched by Terry Howells, Mary Kibble, & Monica Cornall; pp. 30-32)
Local Memorial:
Embleton, Memorial Obelisk in Spitalford Cemetery
Embleton, Church of England School Memorial Plaque
(Source: newmp.org.uk)
