Anthony Bowmer (1895–1978)

Gunner

Royal Navy J17744 HMS Warspite

Photo courtesy Gordon Tarves

Anthony Bowmer RN in WW1

Biography
A native of Crich, Anthony enlisted in the Royal Navy in Feb 1912. He served aboard HMS Warspite when it was damaged at the Battle of Jutland and was mistakenly reported as having gone down with the ship. He later served on HMS Centaur. Marrying Sarah E Fairclough in 1917 December qtr (Devonport reg district), he had a son and a daughter; the son died in infancy. After his naval discharge in 1922, the family later settled near Goole, Yorks, and he worked as a diver. During WW2, he was a railway policeman.

Naval Service Record
Anthony Bowmer was born 20 February 1895, a farm servant. He engaged, aged eighteen, on 20 February 1913 for twelve years. His height was 5ft 5in, he had light brown hair, blue eyes, a mole in centre of his back and a cross with sailor tattooed on his right forearm.
He served on the following ships and bases –
Ganges II 07/06/12 to 24/07/12
Vivid I 25/07/12 to 16/09/12
Antrim 17/09/12 to 06/11/12
Lancaster 07/11/12 to 31/01/13
Carnarvon 01/02/13 to 19/02/13
Vivid I 20/02/13 to 26/05/13
Hearty 27/05/13 to 04/11/13
Vivid I 05/11/13 to 17/12/13
Cornwall 18/12/13 to 19/10/14
Vivid I 20/10/14 to 31/03/15
Warspite 01/04/15 to 29/01/17
Vivid I 30/01/17 to 07/01/17
Centaur 08/01/17 to 18/06/20
Vivid I 19/06/20 to 05/11/20
Delhi 06/11/20 to 05/01/22
Vivid I 05/01/22 to 08/03/22
Invalided 08/02/22
Conduct very good throughout

[Vivid I was shore-based at Devonport. Ganges was also shore-based.]

Medal Index Record
He received the 14-15 Star, Victory and British War Medals

Newspaper Reports

Derbyshire Times 10 June 1916
CRICH MEN LOST
Anthony Bowmer of Crich Carr , who has been in the Navy for about five years, and whose age was 22, is reported as having gone down in the North Sea fight on the 31st of May; also Jim Rodgers, son of Mr William Rodgers of Bull Bridge, who joined the Navy since the war broke out, went down in the "Black Prince".

 

 

[Note: The report was incorrect although his ship HMS Warspite was at the Battle of Jutland.
On the 31 May 1916 Warspite fought at the Battle of Jutland, the largest fleet action since the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. During the battle her steering gear jammed and as she circled in front of the German fleet she was pummelled with large shells.
The Navy converted Warspite into an aircraft carrier in 1934. The ship went on to serve in World War Two, becoming the most battle honoured Royal Navy ship in history.]

These photographs of Anthony's ships are from naval-history.net

hms Antrim

HMS Antrim

HMS Lancaster

H.M.S. Lancaster

HMS Carnarvon

H.M.S. Carnarvon

HMS Cornwall

HMS Cornwall

Hma warspite

HMS Warspite

HMS Centaur

HMS Centaur

HMS Delhi

HMS Delhi

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Thomas Bowmer Head 66 Limestone quarry labourer Crich
Lucinder Bowmer wife 59   Crich
Henry Bowmer son 25 Limestone quarryman Crich
James Bowmer son 21 Farm carter Crich
Harriet Bowmer daughter 18 Hosiery factory hand Crich
Lucinder Bowmer daughter 11   Crich
Anthony Bowmer son 6   Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 42 page 4

1911: Near Church, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Thomas Bowmer Head (wdwr) 76 Limestone quarryman Crich
Daisy Bowmer daughter 27 Hosiery works, ironer & presser Crich
Elizabeth Bowmer grand daughter 18 Hosiery works, sewing machinist Crich
Anthony Bowmer grand son 16 Cowboy on farm Crich

RG14PN20985 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED14 SN101

1939 Register: 32 Low Street, (Goole area)
Anthony Bowmer b.20 February 1895; rigger, rope and wire splicer; ? diver
Sarah E Bowmer b.6 October 1890