Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph and Eliza Cowley. Joseph known as Bill was the eldest son of two brothers and six sisters. Bill played tenor horn with the Ellistown Silver Band, additionally he was a chorister at St. John the Baptist Church, Grange Road, Hugglescote. He attended the local Church School on the corner of Station Road, eventually leaving to become a miner at the South Leicestershire Colliery, later moving to Stablefords Wagon Works as a blacksmith’s striker. His place of residence was later renumbered and renamed to 182, Central Road, Hugglescote, Leics. He enlisted in the 1st/5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment and embarked for France, where in the spring of 1915 he found himself in the Messines sector of Belgium, with their frontline trenches on the slopes of Spanbroekmolen Hill. Amongst other dangers ‘tunnel mining’ was a serious problem. The Germans were digging and detonating high explosives beneath our lines. Lieutenant Aubrey Moore, a qualified mine surveyor asked for volunteers to form a counter tunnelling section. Twenty four men volunteered, among these was Bill, this tunnelling section was superbly led and acquitted themselves time and again during the ensuing years. During February 1916 the Battalion was in a bitterly contested area, Vimy Ridge, just south of Arras in France where tunnel mining was all too common. To this day massive craters remain to remind visitors where huge mines were detonated; in places the craters and the opposing troops that occupied them are only metres apart. During tunnelling the subsoil was removed by bagging it and distributing it well behind the frontline, so avoiding the enemy’s suspicion. It was laborious and dangerous work and on the night of the 7th and 8th May 1916 the enemy blew a counter mine close to where four men of “D” Company had been working. Two of the men were never seen again. The other two bruised and badly shaken crawled out of the shaft in a half naked condition. There has always been an air of mystery as to where Bill lost his life as his body was never found, so almost certainly he was one of the two tunnellers who died on the night of the 7th/8th May at Vimy Ridge. The War Diary for today records. TRENCHES. Battn relieved by KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS commencing 9.00pm. Relief complete by 2.30am (9th May 1916). Battn then proceeded to MONT ST. ELOY and remain there under canvas for one night.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 26th, 1916

HUGGLESCOTE TERRITORIAL KILLED

ANOTHER OF THE FIRST FIFTY

A rumour for several days past that Private Joseph Wm. Cowley, of North Street, Hugglescote, had been killed in action, was confirmed by official news received by his parents on Wednesday morning. A War Office letter stated that deceased was killed in action on May 8th, and Lord Kitchener sent an expression of the sympathy of the King and Queen.

Private Cowley was another of the first 50 Territorials to leave Coalville, who have made the supreme sacrifice. He was about twenty years of age, and a popular young man. Before the war he was a blacksmith’s striker at Messrs. Stableford and Co.’s Works and was a tenor horn player in the Hugglescote and Ellistown Band. He was an old boy at the Hugglescote Church School, and the sad event accounted for the school flag on Wednesday (Empire Day) being seen flying at half-mast. The deceased’s father is Mr Jos. Cowley, who works at the Whitwick pit.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 2nd, 1916

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service was held at St. John’s Church, Hugglescote, on Sunday evening for two Hugglescote soldiers who have been killed in action – Privates A. Pegg, of Crescent Road, and J. W. Cowley, of North Street, both of the Leicestershire Regiment. Cowley was the tenor horn player in the Hugglescote and Ellistown Silver Prize Band, the members of which attended the service, and played the hymn, “Fight the Good Fight” and also the “Dead March” at the close. Suitable hymns were sung and appropriate reference was made to the deceased by Canon Broughton (vicar) in the course of the sermon. There was a large congregation.

IN MEMORIAM

Mr and Mrs Joseph Cowley and family, of 97, North Street, Hugglescote, wishes to thank all friends for kind expressions of sympathy with them in their bereavement by the death of their son, Private Jos. Wm. Cowley, of the 5th Leicestershire Regiment, killed in action on May 8th.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 11th, 1917

IN MEMORIAM

In ever loving memory of Joseph William Cowley, who died for his country, somewhere in France, May 8th, 1916.

“The golden evening brightens in the West,
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest,
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Alleluia”

From his loving Father and Mother, Sisters and Brothers, Ivy, Alf and Fred.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 13/10/2017