James's Story.
EARLY LIFE
James Bowers was born in Macclesfield on 22nd July 1894, the son of Hannah (nee Potts) and William Bowers. In 1901, seven-year-old James was living at 16 Pool Street, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings William (9), Ralph (5) and Alice Ann (2); his father was not at home on census night.
James was educated at Lord Street School, Macclesfield where he reached Standard Grade VI, and after leaving school in 1909 he found work as a cotton hand and enrolled at Macclesfield Technical School for further education.
By 1911 James' father had died, and the family had moved to 27 Knight Street, Macclesfield. The family later lived at 21 Pool Street, Macclesfield.
MILITARY SERVICE
James was mobilised on the outbreak of the war, having already served with the local 7th (Territorial) Cheshire Regiment for seven years with service number 1551. His service number was changed to 290158 when the Army changed the numbering system in 1916.
James served with the battalion at Gallipoli and Egypt, and then moved with the battalion to serve in France, where he was killed in action on 23rd July 1918.
The death of Private James Bowers was reported in the Macclesfield Courier on 7 September 1918:
PRIVATE J BOWERS - Mrs Bowers, 21 Pool Street, has been officially notified that her son, Private James Bowers, Cheshire Regiment, was killed in France on July 23rd. Private Bowers, who had served seven years with the local territorials, was mobilised on the outbreak of the war. He was with the Battalion in the Dardanelles, Egypt, and Palestine, and was transferred to France a short time ago. He was educated at Lord Street School and attended the Sunday School and Park Street Chapel. Prior to the war he was employed by Mr Ledgard, coal merchant.
COMMEMORATION
Private James Bowers is buried at Raperie British Cemetery, in grave ref. II. A. 4.
In Macclesfield, Private James Bowers is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and St George's Church war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
England & Wales Census: 1901, 1911
National School Admission Registers (Find My Past)
7th Cheshire Regiment Roll (Hill & Lowe)
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Courier: 7 September 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.