BOWCOTT Robert

Robert Bowcott was born on 16th June 1899. He entered Form III as a Day Scholar at King Edward VI Grammar School on 14th September 1911. At the time of his admission to the school his father is recorded as John Bowcott, a Store Keeper, and the family resided at 10 Lower Hill Street, Stourbridge. Robert had previously been educated at Hill St Council School (Elementary). He left King Edward VI Grammar School from Form VI on 27th July 1915 and took employment as a Bank Clerk with the London City and Midland Bank.

From King Edward VI Grammar School war record booklet:
Lance-Cpl., 2/8th Battn. The Worcestershire Regt., died of wounds received in action at Valenciennes 1st November, 1918.

Robert Bowcott lived at 20 Western Road, Stourbridge, and was educated at Stourbridge Grammar School. He left in 1915 and worked for the London, City and Midland Bank in Stourbridge. He enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, probably in 1917, at the age of 18. He was then transferred to the 2/8th Worcesters, the local second line Territorial battalion. In 1918 they were in the 61st Division and suffered severely in the first of the German Spring offensives in March. In the April offensive on the Lys the Division was moved to the front line when the Germans had broken through at Armentieres. Fortunes were reversed in the next six months and the Worcesters then took part in the Advance to Victory, starting in August and continuing to November. The battalion’s last battle was at Valenciennes, and was a complete success. However, Lance Corporal Robert Bowcott was dangerously wounded in the battle and died of wounds on the 2nd November, only nine days before the armistice. He is also commemorated on St. Thomas’s church and Methodist church memorials.