George James Dowen
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George James was born in 1886 in Sneinton and was the son of Daniel Dowen a general labourer and Sarah Dowen nee Mills . Both his parents were born in Darleston Staffordshire, Daniel in 1857 and Sarah Mills in 1858, they were married in 1879 at, West Bromwich, they went on to have 5 children : Joseph b1880 in Darleston, Staffordshire, Prudence b1883 Nottingham, George James b1886 Nottingham, Daniel b1888 Nottingham and Mary E b1890 Nottingham. The family appear to move to Nottingham after 1881 as in the 1881 census they are living at Darleston, Prudence is their first child born in Nottingham in 1883 and in the 1891 census they are living at, 30 Rosslyn Street, Nottingham . His mother Sarah died in Nottingham in 1910 aged 52 yrs. In the 1911 census George has left home and joined the Army he is shown as being 25 years of age and a soldier a Private with his battalion North Staffordshire Regiment in India , however written at the side of his entry is a note stating 'on board HM Troopship Rewa England ' Meanwhile in the same census , his father Daniel now 56 yrs of age, is a widow working as a labourer, and living at 122 Sherwood Street, Nottingham, with his son Daniel (junior) 23 yrs a cycle polisher and his wife Harriet Dowen (nee Rodgers) 22 yrs and their daughter Doris Dowen 1 year. He married his wife Charlotte Place in May 1915 in Nottingham and they lived at Norland Road, Nottingham. His wife gave birth to a still-born child on 26th October 1915. (see newspaper article in extra information below) they went on to have a daughter Marjorie Georgina born 31st March 1917. Following his death his widow Charlotte was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 9 pence a week commencing on 28th May 1917 she was living at 10 Grundy Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham.
Private George James Dowen enlisted in Derby giving his place of birth as Sneinton, Nottingham, he initially served with the service number 7719 in the 1st battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, he is with his Regiment in 1911 in India. He later transferred to the 11th battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. He landed in France on 10th September 1914. He was gassed on the 30th October 1916 and killed in action the day after 31th October 1916, he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thieval Memorial, Somme, France.
His brother Daniel also served during the Great War, he enlisted in on 22nd December 1914, at Nottingham he gave his age as 27 yrs and 1 month his occupation as that of iron polisher, he was living at 13 Norland Road, Nottingham, his next of kin was his wife Harriett. According to his Army Service record he had 4 children at this time, Doris, Mabel George and Harry. He served with the Army Service Corps as a driver. He was discharged from the army being medically unfit on 25th February 1915. Article published 30th October 1915 in the Nottingham daily express :- “NOTTINGHAM BABY’S DEATH. “The death of a newly-born female child named Dowen, the daughter of a soldier, George James Dowen, and Charlotte Dowen, of Norland-road, Nottingham, was the subject of an inquiry at the Coroner's Court by the City Coroner yesterday. “Harriett Dowen, sister-in-law of the child’s mother, said that the latter went to reside wth her when her husband went away three months go. Her sister-in-law gave birth to the child rather suddenly on Tuesday morning [26th October 1915] before a doctor and nurse could be called in. “Nurse Heald described the child as a “bonny baby,” and said she thought it would have lived if witness had got to the house in time. “Dr. Simpson said that in his opinion the child was stillborn, and the jury accepted this view.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
