Lieutenant Reginald Julian Albany Bowles
2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Died 20th July 1916, aged 23
Native of Burnley
Buried in La Neuville Cemetery, France - I.D.5.
Commemorated on Christchurch Epsom War Memorial - Epsom Full View
Commemorated on the St Barnabas War Memorial, Epsom

(War Memorial images courtesy of Clive Gilbert)

Lieutenant Reginald Albany Bowles was born in Burnley on 30th May 1891 the son of the Reverend Henry Albany Bowles and Louisa Althea Bowles. He was educated at Haileybury School and at the beginning of the war was an employee of the Western Railway, Quiroga, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He returned to the United Kingdom and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Reginald was killed on 20th July 1916 and is buried in La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie and his death was reported in the Epsom Advertiser and his name is recorded on the Christ Church and Ashley Road, Epsom War Memorials.
Reginald’s father, Rev Henry Albany Bowles, was a curate at St Matthew the Apostle Church, Burnley from 1890 to 1892. In 1890 he lived at 18 Palatine Square and in the 1891 census was living at 14 Piccadilly Road. Local records mention that he preached at Evensong on All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day. In the 1901 census Rev. H. A. Bowles was living at the Vicarage, Otterbourne, Hampshire. In 1911 Reginald, his four sisters and his parents were living at the Hollies, Church Street, Epsom and at the time of Reginald’s death his father was Vicar of Christ Church, Epsom. Rev. Bowles died at Petersfield, Hampshire in 1943 aged 83 years.
NB In 1914 a large number of employees of the Argentinan Railways returned to fight in the British Armed forces and at least 158 of them were killed or died as a result of the conflict. Many joined Welsh Regiments because of their connections with the Welsh community in Patagonia. This is perhaps why Reginald joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

(Thanks to K Spencer and Alison of Burnley Reference Library for their help with this research)