Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Bowes a groom, born 1859 in Norton, Yorkshire and his wife Lucy Bowes (nee Collins, married in the 4th quarter of 1884 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Barsby, Leicestershire. John was born on the 9th May 1885 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were Cicely, born 1886, Robert, born 1891 and Edward, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, in April 1891 the family home was at 9, Wilton Terrace, Melton Mowbray. In March 1901 John was absent from the family home at 49, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray, residing there was his father, a domestic groom, his mother and siblings, Thomas, an errand boy, born 1888 in Melton Mowbray, Robert, Edward, Harry, born 1893, William, born 1895, Annie, born 1897 and Fred, born 1899, the latter four siblings were all born in Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 John was a serving Royal Navy Seaman and was residing at Nottington Broadway, Weymouth, Dorset, this being the family home of his widowed mother in law, Mary Ann Damen a laundress, born 1849 in Portesham, Dorset, together with his wife Harriett Elizabeth Bowes (nee Damen, married in the 3rd quarter of 1903 in the Dorchester, Dorset district), born 1888 in Radipole, Dorset and their daughter Doris Irene, born 1909 in Nottington, Dorset.
John enlisted into the Royal Navy to serve a 12 year engagement commencing the 9th May 1903, being allocated the service number 211518 at Portsmouth, Hants. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 1 inches in height, he had brown hair and brown eyes, his complexion was described as fresh, he gave his trade or calling as errand boy. At the age of 18 his height was recorded as 5 foot 3 inches. His record of service began when he joined HMS Ganges as a Boy 2nd Class on the 4/9/00 – 3/6/01, when he was promoted to Boy 1st Class. HMS Ganges, 4/6/01 – 20/6/01. HMS Minotaur, 21/6/01 – 1/8/01. HMS Ganges, 2/8/01 – 14/1/02. HMS Minotaur, 15/1/02 – 8/4/02. HMS Agincourt, 9/4/02 – 5/5/02. HMS -?- , 6/5/02 – 17/12/02. HMS Victory, 18/12/02 – 12/1/03. HMS Drake, 13/1/03 – 8/5/03, when he was promoted Ordinary Seaman. HMS Drake, 9/5/03 – 24/10/03. HMS Excellent, 25/10/03 – 15/9/04, when he was promoted Able Bodied Seaman. HMS Excellent, 16/9/04 – 14/2/05. HMS Prince George, 15/2/05 – 4/3/07. HMS Excellent, 5/3/07 – 11/9/07. HMS Victory I, 12/9/07 – 21/10/07. HMS Hecla, 22/10/07 – 14/8/10. HMS Victory I, 15/8/10 – 26/8/10. HMS -?-, 27/8/10 – 5/6/11. HMS Exmouth, 6/6/11 – 16/12/12. HMS Albemarle, 17/12/12 – 14/3/13. HMS Victory I, 15/3/13 – 18/10/13. HMS Excellent, 19/10/13 – 27/2/14. HMS Hecla (Ardent), 28/2/14 – 1/6/16 when he was killed in action during the Battle of Jutland.
The background relating to the circumstances in which John lost his life are as follows; The destroyer HMS Ardent, under Lieutenant Commander A. Marsden, was a unit of the 4th Flotilla at Jutland on May 31st 1916. The flotilla was badly mauled, losing one of its leaders and four of its destroyers. During the day the ships managed to escape with the loss of one of their number, HMS Shark, but between 11.00pm and 12 midnight the flotilla, proceeding in line ahead, ran into a squadron of German dreadnoughts and came under a devastating fire. HMS Sparrowhawk was run down and sunk by HMS Broke (out of control) and HMS Fortune was blown to pieces by gunfire. The flotilla leader HMS Tipperary had been sunk just previously, and so great was the general damage to the flotilla that HMS Ardent was the only ship which could be said to be battle worthy. At 12.19am, when steaming alone, HMS Ardent saw the smoke caused by the blowing up of HMS Black Prince and, thinking it betokened the presence of the rest of the flotilla, made towards it. Actually she ran into the German battle squadron which had sunk HMS Black Prince and within a few seconds she was the centre of a blaze of searchlights and a target for every gun which the enemy could bring to bear. Nevertheless she got off two torpedoes before she went down with all her crew, save Lieutenant Commander Marsden and one man, both of whom were wounded. A total of four officers and 74 ratings were lost.
On Friday June 9th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTONIAN DROWNED IN NAVAL BATTLE. Amongst the British ships sunk in the great naval battle last week was H.M.S. Black Prince, and it is officially reported that all hands have been lost. Among them was a Meltonian named Charles Parker, boy telegraphist, who was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Parker, Melton Mowbray, and his mother will perhaps be better remembered as a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wood, formerly of the Eight Bells Inn. Deceased was employed as errand boy to Mr. James Attenborrow, chemist, who recently received the following letter from him. “30 Mess, H.M.S. Black Prince, -?- G.P.O. Dear Sir, You will probably be surprised to hear that I am in the Navy. I joined a month after the war broke out, and am getting on fine. I am at present in the grand fleet, but have not seen any fighting yet. You might remember me to Miss Attenborrow and Mr. Ash, and tell them I am in the best of health. I was 17 last Wednesday, and in six months time hope to be rated as Ord Telegraphist. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain yours respectfully, Charles Parker, Boy Telegraphist”. Seaman Bowes, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bowes, 49, Rosebery-avenue, Melton Mowbray, is supposed to have been on the destroyer Ardent, which was lost in the North Sea battle with all hands but one. There is however a chance that he may be safe. His parents have not received a letter from him for several weeks, but they had heard that he had been transferred to another ship. Mr. Bowes is a married man with two children, his home being near Dorchester. A brother of Mr. T. B. Cross who recently left Melton Mowbray for Edinburgh, was lost on the Invincible.
On Friday June 1st 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – IN MEMORIAM. – BOWES.- In loving memory of John Bowes who lost his life in the Jutland Battle, of the “Ardent,” May 31st 1916. We often sit and think of him. His name we oft recall. But there is nothing left to answer. But his photo on the wall. From Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters.
On Friday May 31st 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – IN MEMORIAM. – BOWES. – In loving memory of John Bowes who lost his life in the Jutland Battle on HMS “Ardent,” May 31st, 1916.
You are not forgotten Johnnie dear.
Or will you ever be.
As long as life and memory last.
We will remember thee.
We often sit and think dear John.
And wonder how you died.
With no one near who loved you dear.
Before you closed your eyes.
From his sorrowing Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters.