Fred Cowlishaw (1880–1939)

Acting Sergeant

Royal Engineers 239353 R.O.D. (Railway Operations Division)
  WR 290368 90 LR Coy

Biography
Fred was a son of the chief clerk at a local gritstone quarry. Born and raised at Crich Carr, he married Florence Smith on 1 April 1912 at Belper Baptist Church and had a daughter. He worked as a clerk on the Midland Railway before becoming a guard.Fred was mobilised on 6 February 1917 and he served with the Railway Operations Division of the Royal Engineers in Egypt before being invalided home on the hospital ship HS Boomah after suffering with dysentery and malaria. Records indicate that he was an acting, unpaid Sergeant. After his death, Fred’s wife and daughter immigrated to Southern Rhodesia.

Medal Index Record
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Service Record
Fred attested 26 November 1915. He was living at 59 Mona St, Beeston, Notts; aged thirty-five years eight months; a married railway guard. His height was 5ft 8½in; His next-of-kin was his wife, Florence Cowlishaw (née Smith) whom he married on 1 April 1912 in Belper Baptist Church. They had a daughter Eileen born 30 July 1913 in Belper.
06/02/17 Mobilized
11/05/17 Apponted l/cprl
17/12/17 Embarked England
31/12/17 Disembarked Alexandria
22/01/18 Promoted Corporal, acting sergeant
13/10/18 Dysentry
29/01/19 Malaria
09/03/19 Invalided UK on H.S. Booma
29/04/19 Demobbed with 50% disabilty allowance; total service 2 years and 83 days. Character very good.

The hospital ship on which Fred was invalided to the UK was recorded as the "Booma". This could have been the Australian Hospital Ship "Boonah".

Hospital Ship Boonah

Hospital Ship Boonah

Fred's brother Alfred Ranson COWLISAW is also on th Roll of Honour

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Whatstandwell

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Frederick Cowlishaw Head 51 Chief Clerk in gritstone quarries Crich
Mary Cowlishaw wife 50   Crich
Annie Cowlishaw daughter 23 School teacher Crich
William H Cowlishaw son 22 Railway Clerk Crich
Fred Cowlishaw son 21 Railway Clerk Crich
Agnes H Cowlishaw daughter 19   Crich
Robert Cowlishaw son 16 Jun clerk gritstone quarry Crich
Alfred R Cowlishaw son 6   Crich

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1911: Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Frederick Cowlishaw Head 61 Foreman gritstone works Crich
Mary Cowlishaw wife 60   Crich
Fred Cowlishaw son 31 Clerk Midland railway Crich
Agnes H Cowlishaw daughter 29   Crich

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1918 Voters List for Crich
Alfred Cowlishaw, 4 Derwent Terrace, Whatstandwell; absent on military service