Private James Noble Bowman enlisted with the 147th Grey Overseas Battalion on 1 February 1916 in Owen Sound, Ontario. Born 21 April 1884 in Scotland Cockpen Parish. NoK Mrs Mary Bowman of Kevock Cottages, Lasswade, Scotland. James stood 6 feet tall, 178 pounds, great physical condition, with fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.
147th Battalion
Organized in November 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G F McFarland. Mobilized at Owen Sound, and recruited in Grey County. Embarked from Halifax 14 November 1916 aboard OLYMPIC, and later disembarked England 20 November 1916 with a strength of 32 officers, 910 other ranks. Later absorbed by 8th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 1 January 1917.
Private James Noble Bowman appointed Acting Lance Corporal on 1 December 1916. With 8th Reserve Battalion from 4 January 1917.
8th Canadian Reserve Battalion (Central Ontario)
Organized at Seaford on 4 January 1917 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A E Carpentier. Formed by absorbing Royal Canadian Regiment and PPCLI Depot. Later absorbed 240th Battalion on 14 May 1917 and 207th Battalion and 10 June 1917. Yukon Infantry Company attached after arrival in England (6 February 1917) but transferred to 3rd Machine Gun Company of 5th Division on 24 March 1917. Reinforced 38th Battalion and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and later absorbed by 6th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 15 February 1918.
James transferred to 4th CMR, 2 April 1917.
James reverts in ranks at own request on 21 April 1917 at Shorncliffe, a typical request in order to proceed overseas with too many higher ranks at the front.
4th Canadian Mounted Rifles
Organized in November 1914 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Vaux Chadwick. Mobilized at Toronto, and recruited from Governor General Body Guards, 2nd Dragoons, 9th Mississauga Horse and 25th Brant Dragoons. Left Quebec 18 July 1915 aboard HESPERIAN, and later arrived in England 27 July 1915 with a strength of 31 officers, 602 other ranks.
Arrived in France 22 September 1915 with the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Mounted Rifles. Designation changed from regiment to battalion on formation of 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1 January 1916.
Pte James Noble Bowman arrived at his unit along with 124 Other Ranks on 27 April 1917. In billets at Villers-au-Bois until 2 May, supplying working parties to 3rd Canadian Railway Company at Pylones, and on to La Folie Ridge on 6 May 1917.
Private James Noble Bowman enters the front lines for the first time on 2 June 1917.
The battalion moved to COMOX CAMP near Carency on 1 July 1917, later relieving the PPCLI in the line on 10 July 1917.
Training
Training at CANADA CAMP from 19 to 25 July 1917, with more training at Auchel until mid-August, when the battalion moves into billets at Camblain l’Abbe. In training at Cambligneul during the September, James finally moves north to the Ypres Salient on 21 October 1917.
Second Battle of Passchendaele
Private James Noble Bowman wounded 27 October 1917. One hundred Other Ranks detailed to carry the wounded to No 9 Canadian Field Ambulance on 30 October 1917.
No 10 Canadian Field Ambulance took James in, but he died of wounds shortly afterwards.
Oxford Road Cemetery
Oxford Road the name given to a road running behind the support trenches, from a point west of the village of Wieltje south-eastwards to the Potijze-Zonnebeke road.
Plot I the original Oxford Road Cemetery and used by the units fighting on this front from August 1917 to April 1918. In October 1917, another cemetery, known as Oxford Road Cemetery No.2, started close by and now forms Plot V of the cemetery as it appears today.
Armistice
After the Armistice, Plots II, III and IV were added when scattered graves from the battlefields east and south-east of Ypres (now Ieper) were brought into the cemetery. Now 851 Commonwealth casualties of the Great War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 297 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate three casualties known to have been buried in the cemetery, but whose graves could not be located. The cemetery designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
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