a headstone for John Bowskill
Arlesey man John Bowskill a private in the Army’s Bedfordshire Regiment
5th Battalion, was injured in the 1st world war. He returned from the fighting
but died from his injuries in 1923, and just three months after the cut-off
date for a military headstone. His grave in St. Peter’s Churchyard Arlesey
was marked by a wooden cross. The cross had rotted away long ago and
the exact location of his grave was uncertain. John’s daughter Olive, now
97 years old, had said one regret before she died would be to not have a
headstone for her father.
As John had been remembered as one of Arlesey’s fallen from the 1st
world war it seemed fitting that as part of the Arlesey Remembers You
project that a headstone be made and placed at his grave.
Funds were raised by the project and the position of his grave was
confirmed from old photos. The ceremony for John, led by the Reverend
Geoffrey Boult, took place in the church as part of the Palm Sunday service,
on 4th April. John’s nephew Jim Bowskill attended the service along with
other members of the family, although sadly Olive could not attend, Jim said
“when I showed her a picture of the headstone she burst into tears”.
The legacy of the project and its research can be seen online:
http://arleseyremembersyou.org.uk
Jim and Sam Bowskill (right)
The Royal British Legion
attended the ceremony
The headstone
stands proud
Duncan Wang – Arlesey
16 |
May 2015
|
Remembers You
on the button, 32 Stotfold Road, Arlesey. Bedfordshire. SG15 6XT www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk
Printed by: Woodbury Printing Services Limited., 90c Bancroft, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. SG5 1NQ tel: 07907 137051