A Man I Never Knew

Ordinary Hero story submitted by Polly Nash.

I have been researching my family tree, and a few weeks ago learned more about my maternal grandfather who died just prior to my mother's birth.

I had understood he was English as myself and my mum were born there, but have now learned he was an Aussie and actually enlisted here in

New Zealand for WW1. He was in the First Battalion New Zealand Regiment, I have since received supporting documentation.

Just a young man, sadly he was killed in Europe on 6th October 1917 and was buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.  He never got to see his daughter , my mother, who incidently herself lost her first husband in WW2 at Dunkirk. Her life was doubly impacted on my the wars.

I am proud of my grandfather's service even though I never knew him, and one thing that  I long for most is a photograph of him, something we've never had in the family. His name was Edward James Bowden. If any other servicemen knew him I would love to hear stories too. Thank you.
 

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