Bowen

BOWEN, Charles Wallace

War
2nd Word War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
London - Ontario
Regimental Number
28761
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
29 years 1 month
Biographical Summary

NAME                  BOWEN           Charles Wallace
RANK                  Private              28761                                                                                                                                                1st Canadian Army - II Canadian Corps - 3rd Canadian Infantry Division - 9th Infantry Brigade REGIMENT         Highland Light Infantry of Canada
                            “defence not defiance”
                            Royal Canadian Infantry Corp                                                                                                  Born                     August 8, 1915 - Blyth - Morris Township - County of Huron                                          Residence           Blyth - Ontario                                                                                                                          Died                    September 28, 1944          29 years   1 month
Cemetery            Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery - Cintheaux - Calvados - France
                            XXVI B 4
Parents               Mr. Harry and Margaret Bowen - Blyth                                                                                Brothers              Fred lived on North Street in Goderich                                                                                                                        Albert lived in Exeter                                                                                                                                                    Wesley lived in Royal Oak - Michigan - USA

Charles was born in Blyth on August 8, 1915 and when he was growing up he enjoyed bowling, skating,
fishing and softball. He liked to be in the school plays. He left school at age 16 while in the 8th grade. Before he enlisted he was employed as a bartender and a hotel clerk at the Commercial Hotel from 1939-41 which was owned by Harry Johnson. He earned $18 week plus board. He had also been a truck driver. Between 1936-37 he had repaired shoes par time for Jack Thompson and was paid $7 week. He and his family attended Blyth United Church on Dinsley Street.

Canada

At the beginning of February 1942 on the 2nd he travelled to London and enlisted into the Canadian Army, He received the rank of Gunner and at that time stood 5' 10" tall and weighed 177 pounds. He had a fair complexion with grey eyes and fair hair. He was Taken on Service with No. 1 District Depot and attached to the Royal Canadian Artillery in London. on March 10 he was posted to No. 10 Basic Training Centre in Kitchener. On May 25 he was reposted from the Royal Canadian Artillery to the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. He was then attached on June 9 to the HLI Reinforcement from No. 10 BTC. On July 18 he was posted to the Highland Light Infantry Reinforcement Unit in preparation for going overseas.

Overseas

Private Bowen was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada on July 20 and the same day embarked from Canada for overseas. While at sea the following day he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army overseas. On July 30 he disembarked in the United Kingdom and was Taken on Service with the 3rd Canadian Division Infantry Reinforcement Unit. At the end of October on the 29 he was Taken on Service with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada                                                                                                                                    Between May 21-June 1, 1943 he was attached to the 3rd Canadian Division Headquarters.   

In the Field

The Highland Light Infantry of Canada and Private Bowen embarked from the United Kingdom on June 4, 1944 and disembarked onto the sands of Juneau Beach on June 6. The HLI fought their way deeper in Europe and all the while pushing the enemy to the east and Private Bowen survived the Normandy landings, Caen, the Orne (Buron), Bourguebus Ridge, Faubourg de Vaucelles, Falais, the Laison and Chambois.                                        The next battle was for control of Boulogne and was part of “Operation Wellhit”.
During the evening of September 18th, the HLI crossed the Liane River and were being brought forward from the reserves. They had crossed the river on a half demolished bridge at Boulogne during the evening and their
objective was to clear the built - up area west of the river, the dock areas and then from there into the forts
of Le Portal and Cap d’ Alprech. The 9th Brigade had turned south to deal with the German resistance in the
Outreau Peninsula.
“C & D” Companies had crossed the river over a wrecked bridge and then established themselves on the east bank of the river and in doing so they had covering fire from the Bren Gun carriers, mortars and the Glengarries. In the meantime “A & B” Companies followed and by 4 am the bridge was able to begin carrying vehicles.
During the night of the 18/19th there was close and involved fighting and there were a number of casualties
suffered.                                                                                                                                                                    At 6:30 am on September 19 the attack on Boulogne began but the communications were very poor. At first light on the 19th the HLI pressed forward toward the high ground and met strong and heavy opposition from a murderous enemy crossfire coming at them from all directions. “A” Company had followed the road to Le Portel and their objective was that upon reaching the town they were to attack the forts from the north. “B” Company formed the right jaw of the pincer and began to work their way toward Honriville and approach the forts from the east. “C & D” Companies in the meantime had worked their way through the built up areas and were in between “A & B” Companies. This enemy fire from the Germans was bringing out so many casualties and hampered their progress that the artillery was called upon for the balance of the day and they pounded the forts and other enemy positions. As they continued their advance they dealt with much sniper fire from all points and they were now
experiencing the heaviest German fire to date. At 2 pm “B” Company began to make a hook to the right with “C & D” companies providing support and still the communications were poor and the enemy fire was still increasing. Now the Germans in the fort were bringing the big marine guns to bear along with 88s and light ack ack.            At 6:45 pm they began to withdraw after having made good progress of clearing out the built up areas, but in turn had come under heavy enemy fire as they emerged into the clear.
During this day the HLI lost 18 men killed and 64 men to wounds.
• Private Bowen was seriously wounded on September 27 and was admitted to # 22 Canadian Field Ambulance  and then admitted to No.8 Canadian General Hospital at 11:30 pm after being evacuated from the battlefield with a fractured skull with damage to the frontal lobe and a penetrating wound in his abdomen, a perforated bowel and left thigh and hip lacerations. At 2 am on September 20 10 cc AGGS was administered. Private Bowen recalled the blast and then be remembers nothing for a short time. He had headaches , pain in the left hip area and pain in the abdomen and lower belly and at 9 pm penicillin were administered. Private Bowen had an operation on September 22 and for two days his condition improved  but then he began to slide and lose ground. the suction of his abdominal wound was continuous  and his intravenous is continuous. He remained conscious the whole day but lost his battle to live at 8:30 pm on September 28. Private Bowen was originally buries in Rouen St. Sever Cemetery in the Military Portion.

During the month of January 1945 his mother Margaret received the Memorial Cross. In October of 1949 Private Bowen was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France - Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal plus the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Charles is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of Blyth United Church and on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. He is also remembered in the Books of Remembrance situated on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.