For a history project in year 9 we had to research a Burton Boy who fought in WW1 and Sir Francis Edwin Cowley was one of them. He was only young when he died and left behind a loving family. Also unfortunately he never got to meet his young son who was born just days after his death.

7th Bn, Rifle Brigade. (The Prince Consort's Own). Killed in Action 4th October 1915, Aged 23. Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) panel 46 - 48 & 50.  Edwin Francis Cowley was born in 1894 in Winshill, Staffordshire. He was the son of Arthur Cowley, a sawyer of English and foreign wood, and his wife Phoebe Elizabeth Cowley (née Rickard), a dressmaker, who were married at Winshill on Christmas Day, 1890. Edwin had two brothers Joseph and Albert, and two sisters Doris and Margaret. In 1901 the family were living at 114 Ferry Street, Stapenhill, Burton on Trent, and by 1911 had moved to 144, Victoria Street, Burton on Trent. By 1919 they had moved again to 296 Goodman Street, Burton on Trent.

Edwin and his brother Joseph both enlisted at Burton on Trent on 1st September 1914 and both joined the Rifle Brigade (the King's Royal Rifles), Edwin as Private B3429 in the 8th (Service) Battalion. Edwin was posted on 4th September to Winchester and then to Aldershot.

On 18th May 1915 Edwin was sent to Boulogne. (His brother Joseph was sent to France two days later). A move to the fighting front was delayed by lack of rifle and artillery ammunition, but on 30th and 31st July the battalion was in action at Hooge where it had the misfortune to be the first to be attacked by liquid fire flamethrowers. This was followed by intensive hand to hand fighting in the trenches, a further flamethrower attack and heavy shellfire.

On 16th August 1915 Edwin was promoted to a Lance Corporal and at some point was transferred to the 7th Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own).

Edwin's battalion was also involved in the Second Attack on Bellewaarde on 25th September. The attack on the German trenches in the vicinity of Hooge and Bellewaarde Lake was designed to distract enemy attention from the operation al Loos, away to the southward and to contain the enemy's reserves. There was a steady downpour the night before and the men spent a miserable night in their wet clothes waiting for dawn. Despite the efforts of the Allies' troops the attack failed.

Edwin was killed in action near Ypres on 4th October 1915, aged 23. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Panel 46-48, and 50. After his death Edwin's property was returned to his widow and it included a pipe, a chess game, photos, a crucifix and a horseshoe. His brother Joseph survived the war, the latter part of which he was with the Machine Gun Corps.

Edwin had married Agnes Annie Mabel King, known as 'Mabel', in Loughborough in early 1915 and their son Edward Patrick Cowley was born shortly afterwards on 17th March at 4 Caldwell Street, Loughborough. Edwin's widow Mabel was remarried in 1924 in Loughborough to Albert Edward Dakin.

Mia Morris