Thomas Henry Bown
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- Military History
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Thomas Henry Bown was born in 1891 in Nottingham and was the son of Thomas and Harriett Ann Bown née Powell. His father was born in 1855 in Fazeley, Staffordshire, and his mother was born in 1858 in Nottingham. They were married in 1878; the marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District. They went on to have seven children but sadly one was to die in infancy. Their surviving children, all born in Nottingham, were: Eliza b1879, Ada b1882, Ellen b1887, Thomas Henry b1891, Frederick Walter b1893 and Beatrice b1896. In the 1911 census the family are living at 5 Napoleon Square, Cinderhill, and are shown as Thomas 56 yrs a coal miner who is living with his wife Harriett Ann 53 yrs and their two sons, Thomas Henry 20 yrs a grocers assistant and Frederick Walter 18 yrs a warehouseman. Thomas Henry married Florence Catherine Syson on 26th April 1911 at the parish church in Cossall. They lived at 13 Fox Grove, Basford, Nottingham. His father Thomas died on 24 November 1924 aged 69 years, and his mother Harriett Ann on November 6th 1947.
Thomas Henry (Harry) Bown attested on 8th December 1915 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 25 yrs 5 months, his address as 13 Fox Grove, Basford, and his occupation as that of a grocer manager. His next of kin was his wife Florence of the same address. He was placed into the reserves the following day. He was mobilised on 24th October 1916 and posted initially to the Army Service Corps but transferred on the 8th March 1917 to the West Yorkshire Regiment. He embarked for France on 8th March 1917 and posted to the 10th battalion York and Lancashire Regiment on 14th April 1917. He was wounded and taken prisoner on 23rd April 1917 and died of his wounds while a prisoner in Germany on 6th June 1917. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hessen, Germany (grave reference VI.A.13).
Inscription on family headstone, Basford Cemetery: 'In loving memory of Ellen Powell, who died June 5th 1915 (?16) aged 55 years. Also of Andrew, husband of the above, who died April 16th 1917, aged 66 years. Reunited. Also of Thomas Bown died Nov. 24th 1924, aged 69 years. Peace after pain. Also of Pte. Harry Bown son of the above who died of wounds in Germany on June 6th 1917 aged 27 years. Also Harriett Ann beloved wife of Thomas who died Nov. (-) 1947 aged (86) years. Reunited.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 June 1918: ‘Bown. In affectionate remembrance of my dear husband, Pte TH Bown, who died from wounds June 6th, 1917. How little I thought as I said good-bye, we had parted for ever and you were to die, for the grief that I feel words cannot tell, for I could not be with you to bid you farewell. Sorrowing wife.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 June 1918: ‘Bown. In affectionate remembrance of our dear brother, Harry, who died June 6th 1917 (in Germany), of wounds received in action. Silently mourned. Eliza and Charles, Ada and Tom, Nellie [Ellen] and Ike.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 June 1918: ‘Bown. In affectionate remembrance of Pte Harry, son of Mr and Mrs Bown, Cinder Hill, died June 6th 1917, of wounds received in action. Sadly missed. Father, mother, Fred and Beatie [Beatrice].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
