Early Life :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

France & Flanders covers all the dates and corresponding locations which are outside the official battle nomenclature dates on the Western Front. Therefore the actions in which these men died could be considered 'normal' trench duty - the daily attrition losses which were an everyday fact of duty on the Western Front.

Detail :

Regarding military service, Stanley had previously been a member of a cavalry unit of the Special Reserve, King Edward’s Horse, for three years, but shortly after the declaration of war he joined the Lancashire Hussars in the September with the service number 179/R, then renumbered to 1303. The London Gazette of 15 April 1915 reports that on 22 March 1915 he received a commission as Temporary Lieutenant with the 16th (Service) Battalion,(2nd Birkenhead) The Cheshire Regiment, and went with them to France in the January of 1916. His elder brother, Charles John Bowe, also went to France at the same time and would hold the rank of Major in the Cheshire Regiment at the end of the war.

Stanley transferred in the May of 1916, to the 18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, and became their Transport Officer, but a year later had to be invalided home. On recovery, Stanley was posted back to France and arrived on 28th April of 1918, as Lieutenant (TP) with the 2/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, just in time to feel the might of the major German spring offensive.

Stanley was up in the front line trenches, taking charge of an attack on the evening of May 13th 1918, when the German artillery laid done a heavy barrage. Although not causing heavy fatalities, it never the less shook up the recipients, including Stanley, who the following morning, with help arriving, was sent back by his commander to a first-aid post for some attention, and a rest. Tragically, while in the post, it received a direct hit from an exploding shell, severely wounding Stanley, who was immediately rushed to the nearby No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. He was admitted with a gun shot wound and compressed fracture to his left thigh, and a fracture to his right leg. They sadly where unable to save him and he succumbed to his wounds the following day, Wednesday 15th May 1918, aged 33. Ironically, Stanley’s brother, John, was initiated into Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge, the same month of 1918, that Stanley was killed.

A brother-officer said of Stanley, “He was the best liked man in the mess,” followed with “and any of the N.C.O.’s in the company would have done anything for him.” Indeed, one of his subordinates said of him that he was “one of the real men.”

Stanley’s body was laid to rest, with full military honours, in Grave. “I. E.18.” Pernes British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals which were sent to his mother at Chatham Street, Liverpool, in 1922. He is also commemorated on the family grave at Allerton cemetery, Liverpool in Section CE. 14. 231

The index to wills and probate gives for 1918 says, Bowe, Stanley Gordon of 127 Chatham Street, Liverpool, tea salesman, Lieutenant 18th Battalion (attached 5th) Lancashire Fusiliers died 15th May 1918 at No.1 Canadian Clearing station France. Probate Liverpool 9th August to Thomas Bowe retired dock Board Clerk. Effects £525.14s.6d.

Stanley is also commemorated on the Bronze Roll of Honour, recorded as, BOWE, S.G. CHESHIRE REGT, now on a wall, in a side room within St. Bride with St. Saviour Church, in Percy Street, Liverpool, Liverpool Collegiate School the Liverpool Masonic Hall Memorial, Hope Street, and on page 106 of the Roll of Honour Book, published by United Grand Lodge, 1921, which has Bowe, Stanley Gordon, Steward, Lieutenant.

Masonic :

Stanley was initiated into Arthur Stanley Lodge No 3469 on 9th February 1914, a Tea Salesman residing at 127 Chatham Street, Liverpool. He was passed to the second degree on 6 April, raised as a master mason on 13 May and his Grand Lodge certificate was issued on 19 May 1914. He would later become a Steward in the lodge. His elder brother, John Charles Bowe was initiated into the lodge on 31 May 1918.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley
• Researcher : Geoff Cuthill