| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Walter Sowen was born in 1891 in Beverley, the son of George Wiley Sowen and Emma. Emma and George Sowen had ten children, Fanny, Edith, Alice, George, Maud, Marianne, Frank, David, Walter and Ernest Wiley. Emma outlived her husband and six of her children. Maud and George died in infancy. In 1892 tragedy struck the family when George Sowen committed suicide, drowning himself in the River Hull and taking two of his sons, Frank (6) and David (4) with him.
Walter enlisted with the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment in 1911. Later that year he was posted to the 2nd Battalion who were stationed in India. He earned good conduct badges in 1911 and 1914. In 1915 the 2nd Battalion moved to Belgium and the Ypres Salient. The second phase of the Battle of Ypres was the battle of St Julien. Walter was killed in action on 5 May 1915.
He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is 'Remembered with Honour' at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and also commemorated at the St Mary's War Memorial, Hengate, Beverley.
Brother Ernest Wiley died at the Battle of Drocourt-Queant on the 2 Sep 1918.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |