William's Story.
Runcorn Guardian, Friday March 30, 1917.
Bombardier W. Fowles
Mrs. Fowles, 11, Picton Avenue, Runcorn, has received news that her husband, Bombardier William Fowles, has been killed in action. The letter was from one of the officers of the battery as follows:
“I deeply regret to inform you that your husband, Bombardier William Fowles, was killed yesterday evening. He was killed instantaneously and did not suffer at all. His death is a great loss to the battery, as he was one of the very best and N.C.O.s. His funeral took place this afternoon, and he is buried between two of his comrades who were killed at the same time. In the name of the officers and men of the battery may I convey to you the expressions of our deep sympathy in your great grief.”
Bombardier Fowles joined up in his group April of last year and patriotically refused to put in an appeal. At the end of June, he went to the front with his battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was one of the oldest members of the staff of Balfour-Road council school in point of service and took a keen interest in his boys not only in their schoolwork but also in their recreative pursuits. He was himself an excellent swimmer and did much in the way of encouraging the art among the lads and spent a considerable part of his time at the local baths assisting in the training of the scholars both for the local school competitions and also for lifesaving. He had gained a medallion for lifesaving. He was also an excellent footballer and cricketer; he took a keen interest in the games. He was enthusiastic angler and was the secretary of the local angling association for Warrington and Runcorn.
Bombardier Fowles was a native of Winsford, having lived in Chester Road. He attended one of the local schools and on deciding to adopt the teaching profession, proceeded to Leeds training college. After a successful career there he obtained an appointment at the Winsford council schools, and afterwards at Wharton schools. From Wharton he subsequently obtained an appointment at the Balfour Road schools, Runcorn, I was on the staff at the school for seven years when he joined up. He was 28 years of age. He leaves a wife and three young children. Only on Tuesday Mrs Fowles received a field card from him stating that he was quite well, on the same day his wife's mother also heard from him. The flags at Balfour Road school and at the Victoria Road school (where the deceased was on the staff of the night school) are flying at half mast, and the announcement of the sad news at the school created the utmost sorrow.