Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 36883 William Joseph Cowin

Age: 19
From: Bradden IOM
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
K.I.A Sunday 22nd October 1916
Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Joseph Cowin was born on 01st December 1896 in Douglas, Isle of Man, the son of John Edward Cowin and his wife Frances Catherine (née Faragher) of 14 Kingswood Grove. His parents married on the 19th November 1887 at Braddan, and had six children. William had older sisters Margaret, Christian, and Catherine, and younger siblings Bertha and John. He was baptised on 03rd January 1897 in Kirk Braddan, his parents’ residence Cronkbourne Village, Douglas, and his father’s occupation listed as labourer. Both his Christian names came from his grandfathers.

In 1901 the family is found at 7 Cronkbourne Village, with six children under 10 years old. His father 34, is a flax mill labourer, born in Michael, his mother is 32, born in Michael, children born Braddan; Margaret 10, Christian 8, Catherine 5, William is 4, Bertha 2 and John 8 months.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 6 Harris Terrace Douglas. His father, John Edward. is aged 44, born in Kirk Michael in 1867 and is a Yard Man for Andrew Knowles and Son Ltd, whilst his mother Frances is aged 42, born 1869 in Kirk Michael. They had been married for 23 years. They have six children, all of whom were born in Braddan, Isle of Man. Margaret is aged 20 born 1891, Christian is aged 18, born 1893, Catherine aged 16, born 1895 have no occupation, William aged 14, born 1897, Bertha aged 12, born 1899 and John aged 10, born 1891 are still at school.

William enlisted in Douglas, Isle of Man and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 36883 when he was killed in action on the 22nd October 1916, aged 19, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

He was killed by a shell that also killed his friends Pte 38487 Edward Crebbin and Pte 26885 James Alfred Shimmin.

20th Battalion War Diary

GUEUDECOURT.

21.10.16 - Digging new trench.

22.10.16 - Completed trench by 4 a.m., was labelled SALMON TRENCH and handed over on relief.

2nd Lt Maddick was relieved in front line by 2nd Lt Worsley and evacuated sick. Heavy artillery very active, continuous barrage was put on our front line and support trenches. Considerable aircraft activity on both sides during the day. In accordance with 89th Inf. Bde. O.O. No. 62 the Battn. was relieved by the 29th Australian Infantry at 10 30 p.m. the Battalion moving to bivouacs near MAMETZ WOOD arriving about 4 30 a.m. and on 23rd.

From letters received from Pals in France, it would appear that four boys were killed by the same shell, viz., Privates Karran, Shimmin, Cowan, and Crebbin, and were buried, under heavy shell fire, by their comrades, as this extract from a letter details -

“25th Oct. 1916

It happened last Sunday. The Germans were shelling us, and a shell came over which exploded very close ... The four of them ran to get better shelter, and, instead of separating, they all ran in a heap. Another shell came over, and exploded just behind them, and they were all killed instantly. Three of the four were Manx chaps [Ptes. J. Shimmin, W.J. Cowin, and E. Crebbin]. Nothing could be done for any of them, as they were all killed at once, so we buried them altogether as best we could.

Frank Coleburn (36881)

No. 15 Platoon, No.4 Co.,

20th Batt., K.L.R.

B.E.F.”

The graves of William and his comrades were subsequently lost in the two years of fighting on the Somme as William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His parents placed a notice in the Isle of Man Weekly Times on 11th November 1916:

“Killed in action on 22nd Oct., aged 19 years and 10 months, William Joseph Cowin, dearly loved and elder son of John E. and Frances C. Cowin, of 14 Kingswood Grove, Douglas.

Only a brave young hero

Longing to do his share,

Now lies in a grave abroad -

God alone knows where

Do not ask us if we miss him;

There is such a vacant place;

But he fought and died for Britain

And the honour of his race.

(Deeply mourned by father, mother, sisters and brother.)”

On the same date the newspaper reported that his parents had received a letter from the Chaplain of his regiment recording the death in action of their son (no further details provided).

Isle of Man Examiner 11th Nov 1916

PRIVATE W. J. COWIN KILLED

Mr and Mrs Cowin of 14 Kingswood Grove, Douglas, received a letter from the Chaplain of the King's Liverpool Regiment of Friday of last week, to the effect that their son, Private W. J. Cowin, was killed in action on the Somme on October 22nd. He was 19 years of age and was formerly employed by Messrs Andrew Knowles and Son, Fort Street. He was one of four Manxmen killed by the same shell.

[KLR - Pte W.J.Cowin, Pte J.A.C.Shimmin, Pte E.Crebbin; R.Scots Pte A.A.Karran dow later 28th Oct 1916]

Mona's Herald 15th Nov 1916

COWIN - Killed in action on 22nd October aged 19 years and 10 months, Private William Joseph Cowin, dearly loved and elder son of John E. and Frances C. Cowin, 14 Kingswood Grove, Douglas.

He was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 29 November 1916.

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Campbell, 25722, A.; Cowin, 36883, W. J. (Isle of Man); Crebbin, 38487, E.; (Isle of Man); Dutton, 22677, A. (Runcorn); Jones, 17197, Coy. Sergt.-Major T. L.; Leyland, 16381, Lce.-Cpl W.; Molyneux, 22782, Sgt. E.; Moulton, 22181, Coy. Sergt.-Major R. W.; Nickson, 23127, C. H. (Runcorn); Richardson, 22820, S.; Roberts, 22821, E. (Seacombe); Shimmin, 36885, J. A. C. (Isle of Man); Skelland, 18184, T,; Webber, 23856, S. J. (Bootle); Williams, 37905, W.; Woods, 32259, J.;

John earned his two medals.

His parents received his Army effects, Army pay of £2 18s, and War Gratuity of £3. His mother, living at 14 Kingswood Grove, Douglas, was awarded a pension of 13/- a week from June 1917.

His father died on the 27th March 1936, aged 69.

His father's death was reported in the Isle of Man Examiner on Friday March 27, 1936:

COWIN.—March 27th, at 14, Kingswood Grove, Douglas, JOHN EDWARD, aged 69 years, beloved husband of Frances C. Cowin.—Funeral leaving the above address Sunday, March 29th, at 2-30 p.m. for Braddan Cemetery.

His mother died in 1944, aged 75 and was buried on the 27th May.

William is commemorated on the following memorials -

Douglas War Memorial

Manx National Memorial

St. Thomas Parishioners, Douglas and the Douglas Roll of Honour.

Grateful thanks are extended to Douglas Library, Isle of Man and Joe Devereux for permission to use the photograph of William Joseph now shown on this site.

We currently have no further information on William Joseph Cowin, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(108 Years this day)
Sunday 16th June 1918.
Pte 57615 Fred William Preddy
23 years old

(105 Years this day)
Thursday 16th June 1921.
Captain Leonard George Duncan
43 years old