Thomas Bowen

This name appears on the War Memorial in Quatt Parish Church.

Thomas does not appear to have been born in the village. He was not baptised at the church and does not appear to have been living in the village at the time of the 1891, 1901 or 1911 censuses.

The Bridgnorth Journal of 13th April, 1918 reports the death as a prisoner of war 'in Turkish hands' of T Bowen, Yeomanry, Bridgnorth. This appears to refer to 325210 Private Thomas Bowen, Worcester Yeomanry, who died on 11th April, 1917 and is buried (commemorated?) in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.

Thomas Bowen was born at Farndon, Cheshire in about 1885. In 1911, he was working as a groom at Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire, but he was living in the Bridgnorth area when he enlisted. Farndon borders Rossett, the home village of George O'Brien, another man named on the Quatt memorial. George worked at Dudmaston Hall and it seems likely that they may have both come to work there as the result of an earlier friendship.

Private Thomas Bowen, 325210, served with the Hussars. He was formerly 2222 Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars (Worcestershire Yeomanry). He died in the Egyptian theatre of war on 11th April, 1917 (He had been there since 20th April, 1915). He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1915 Star.