Sydney Bowden
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Sydney Bowden was born in 1886 in Manchester and was the eldest son of Frederick a railway accounts collector and Elizabeth Ann Bowden née Carr of 13 South Road West Bridgford Nottingham. His father Frederick William was born in 1860 in Warrington, Lancashire, his mother Elizabeth Ann Carr was born in 1859 in Boston, Lincolnshire, they were married in 1883 in Chorlton, Lancashire and went on to have 4 children, all of whom were born in Manchester and were :- Lily Vine, b1885, Sydney b1886, Wilfred b1888 and Norman Bowden b1897. In the 1911 census the family are living at 13 South Road West Bridgford, Nottingham and are shown as Frederick William 51 yrs a railway accounts collector, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 52 yrs and their children , Lilly Vine 26 yrs a relief stationer working in a stationary department, Sydney 25 yrs a clerk in a grocery department, Wilfred 23 yrs a railway clerk and Norman 14 yrs a scholar.
Second Lieutenant Sydney Bowden originally joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a private, and was later given a commission in the R.A.F.,and was serving in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps when he died in hospital on 5th November 1918 from pneumonia following influenza and was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery (St Paul's 9923) on 13 November 1918.
An article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 13th November 1918. His brother Second Lieutenant Norman Bowden, 35 Squadron Royal Air Force, formerly of the Robin Hood Rifles, was killed when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 25th April 1918. He is buried in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. He had survived a forced landing after being hit by machine gun fire on 11th April 1918. “LOCAL OFFICER'S FUNERAL. Lieut. Sydney Bowden, whose home is at South-road West Bridgford, who succumbed to pneumonia following influenza, was buried with military honours at the Church Cemetery this afternoon, [13th November 1918] the Rev. S [E]. A. Barnacle, of St. Faith's, officiating. Deceased joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a private, and was later given a commission in the R.A.F., from which he transferred from the infantry. He has had two brothers serving, one whom was killed whilst in the R.A.F.” In memoriam notice published 5th November 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post: “BOWDEN. – In loving memory of our boy Sydney, died November 5th, 1918, late 2nd Lieut. R.A.F. Dear son sleep on in calm, unbroken slumber, until the day break and the shadows flee away; we wait in love and patient hope to meet you, in that bright morning land of perfect day. – Mother, father, sister, brother.” Both above articles are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Inscription on headstone, Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery: 'In loving memory of Sydney Bowden, late 2nd Lt RAF died in hospital Nov. 5th 1918 aged 32 years. Also of Norman Bowden, 2nd Lt Robin Hoods, attd. RAF, killed in action in France, April 25th 1918, aged 21 years. God’s will.'
