838801 Pte. James Noble Bowman, the second oldest of six children born to Thomas Bowman and Mary Noble. was born On April 21st, 1884, in Bonnyrigg/Lasswade, which was part of the parish of Cockpen in Mid-Lothian, Scotland.
The Bowmans originated from Fife and the Nobles from Mid Lothian, and before that the Scottish Borders
Appearing on both the 1891 and 1901 Scottish censuses, James' occupation on the 1901 Census is listed as being a Parcel Lorryman. Subsequently emigrating to Canada, he settled in Grey County, Ontario, and was working as a farmer in the Chatsworth area when hostilities broke out.
James attested in to the 147th (Grey) Battalion on February 1st, 1916, in Owen Sound, and was assigned to "A" Company. Billeted locally over the winter, the 147th Battalion mobilized in Owen Sound in the spring of 1916 and left for training at Camp Niagara.
As the conditions in the Camp were wanting the unit moved to the new training facility of Camp Borden in late June. In September the unit received their orders to proceed overseas, but due to an outbreak of diphtheria they were detained in Amherst, Nova Scotia, for over a month. The unit finally sailed for Great Britain on November 14th, 1916, on the S.S. Olympic, a sister ship to the Titanic.
On January 1st, 1917, the 147th Battalion ceased to exist when it became the nucleus for the 8th Reserve Battalion, whose task it was to supply reinforcements to the 58th Battalion and the 4th C.M.R. James was amongst a contingent of 103 men to be transferred to the 4th CMR on April 22nd, 1917, as reinforcements for the casualties taken during the Battle of Arras. The 147th Battalion would eventually supply 354 men to the 4th CMR during the war.
James probably saw action at Hill 70, and manned the trenches during the units regular rotation of the front lines, what is known is that at some point James was wounded.
Despite efforts to save him, James died of his wounds while being treated at No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance, on October 30th, 1917.
Pte. James Noble Bowman lies at rest in Oxford Road Cemetery, Belgium. Click on the headstone image to the right to see a larger version of the picture.
His service and sacrifice are remembered on the Chatsworth Cenotaph (left), Grey County, Ontario.
Thanks and credit for the family details and photograph of James Bowman go to Betty Forbes.
Credit to Chris Henzler for the headstone image and George Auer for additional service details and the Chatsworth Cenotaph image.