Pioneer Henry Cowgill

Service Number: 245946

4th Field Survey Coy., Royal Engineers

Killed in Action 19th August 1917, aged 20

Son of William & Martha Ann Cowgill, 65 Ebor Street, Burnley

From the Burnley Express dated the 1st September 1917:   PROMISING CAREER ENDED.  Gammar School Boy Killed

Mr. &. Mrs. W. Gowgil, of 65 Ebor Street, Queensgate, have sustained a heavy blow in the death, in action, of their eldest son, who by perseverance and industry, while employed as a weaver, worked himself up by study, till he won the Oxford Senior Local Examination while a student at the Burnley Grammar School, his intention being to adopt the scholastic profession.

Pioneer Henry Cowgill R. E. (245946), who was 20 years of age in March last, was employed as a weaver at Walton's Elm Street Mill up to 15 years of age.  He attended St John's Sunday and day Schools, Ivy Street, where he was an altar boy from 8 years of age until he became a full-timer in the Mill, and when 15, he went to the Grammar School, staying till he passed his Oxford Examination at Heckmondwike on March 23, 1916.  Within a fortnight of receiving his Certificate in May he was in the Army, and a little over a week ago the parents received news from an officer that he had been killed, the official confirmation of the sad event being received on Thursday last.  A Requiem Mass was held at St. John's R. C. Church, Ivy Street on Thursday morning, the Rev. Father Connor being the Celebrant.

Buried in Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, France: III. C. 6
Commemorated on the Burnley Grammar School Memorial