COWELL, Clement


No.622394, Private, Clement COWELL
Aged 20


27th Battalion (City of Winnipeg), Canadian Infantry
Died of his Wounds on Sunday, 18th June 1916


Clement Cowell was born on 8th August 1895 in Tottenham (Edmonton Q3-1895 3A:407) son of Walter and Catherine COWELL (née WALLIS).

1901 census...Aged 6, he was at Castle Camps with his father Walter COWELL [45] farm labourer; his mother Catherine [41] both born in Castle Camps; sister Charlotte Elizabeth [15], brother Walter George [9] and sister Catherine [8] all three born in Tottenham; brother Ernest [2] born Castle Camps. The census says he was born in Castle Camps but his birth registration is Edmonton.

1911 census...Aged 15, a stockman on farm, born Tottenham, he was in Castle Camps with his parents (father now roadman); brothers Walter (farm labourer) Ernest and Harold [3], born Castle Camps. 3 of the 10 siblings had died.

Possibly the 18 year old Clem Cowell, farmer, who sailed on SS "Ascania" from Southampton to Portland USA on 3rd April 1913

His brother Walter George was killed serving in the same unit near Mount Sorrel but 3 days before Clement was wounded. see here



Clement and his elder brother, Walter George, enlisted together, they have consecutive Army numbers. Being in the same battalion throughout, Walter died in the earlier stages of the Battle of Mount Sorrel, the abortive 1st counter-attack. Canadian Archives:- RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2072-7 Item Number: 121828 He attested in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, on 24th April 1915. He gave his date of birth as August 8th, 1895, a labourer, born in Tottenham, England, father Walter Cowell of Castle Camps. He had served one year in King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was 5 feet 7 inches (170.2 cm)tall, weighed 140 lbs (63.7 kg), chest 32.5" to 36" (82.6 to 91.4 cm), blue eyes, brown hair, Church of England.
He sailed from Halifax aboard the SS Lapland on 23rd October 1915 with 44th Battalion, arriving in England on the 30th. A period of intensive training followed before he was despatched to France on 15th April 1916 and transferred to the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion. He joined them in the field on 6th May and then in the Battle of Mount Sorrel he received serious wounds to the head and both legs and was admitted to No.3 Casualty Clearing Station where he died on the 16th June. Remy Farm was the base at the time of the 3rd Canadian C.C.S., next door to Lijssenthoek cemetery.



The area of the Mount Sorrel battle


The 2nd counter-attack at Mount Sorrel, which the Germans took early in June 1916.The attack began at 1:30am, and quickly took the German front lines and almost 200 prisoners. A heavy German bombardment followed against the newly captured positions, which combined with the mud and the churned-up ground made the work of consolidation very difficult. It was impossible to be sure where the original front lines had been, because of the number of water-filled shell holes and mine craters. As it turned out, the new posts that were dug were in places a hundred yards behind the original position. The Germans had been pushed back off the Mount Sorrel and Tor Top ridge, and the Canadians had successfully executed their first planned attack.
Between 2nd and 14th June 1916, the Canadian Corps lost a total of 73 officers and 1053 other ranks killed; 257 officers and 5010 other ranks wounded; 57 officers and 1980 other ranks missing, a total of 8430.



www.lijssenthoek.be/en/.html source of photograph


photo: Rodney Gibson



Clement Cowell is buried in Lijssenthoek Miltary Cemetery, grave 8:A:36A

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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