Thomas William Gowing

A Private with 6th Bn., Thomas died on 4th of October 1916 at the age of 21. 

Thomas was born at Lowestoft in 1894, a son of Thomas William and Sarah Elizabeth Gowing. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 15 June 1894, and his family lived at The Hemplands. By 1901 they were living at 4 Smiths Cottages, Hemplands, Lowestoft. In 1911 Thomas and his family were still living at 4 Smiths Cottages, and Thomas was an assistant at a general store. Subsequently Thomas' family lived at 30 Church Road, Lowestoft. 

Thomas was working as a butcher when he volunteered to join the Army. He enlisted at Lowestoft and served, initially, with the Suffolk Regiment, number 12250 (some sources suggest he served with the 6th Cyclist Battalion). He was later transferred to Army Cyclist Corps, number 2864. Subsequently he was transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and posted to the 6th Battalion. He arrived in France with the 6th Battalion on 31 May 1915. Note: he served with George Stebbings who also came from Lowestoft. 

We do not know exactly when Thomas was wounded, but he died from his wounds at No 37 Casualty Clearing Station. 

Thomas' brother-in-law, William Hart, died in 1947 in the loss of the trawler S.D.J., and his nephew, William Hart, died in 1942 while serving with the R.A.F.