Gunner John F Bowes

Gunner John Fleming Bowes, born in Lanarkshire Scotland, was the son of William and Jessie Bowes and husband of Janet Bowes.

He served in 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery, which was turned over to airborne duties and became part of 1st Airborne Division on 23 October 1942.

The battery moved to North Africa in 1943 and was held in reserve for the Sicily invasion before finally deploying for the seaborne invasion of Italy in September 1943.

All of the battery, and elements of the 6th Parachute Battalion, were transported onboard HMS Abdiel, a mine layer, into Taranto harbour. Shortly before the men were due to disembark HMS Abdiel hit a mine, causing its own mines to detonate and splitting the ship in two. The ship sank in four minutes.

Over twenty members of the battery died in the explosion including Gunner Bowes.

Gunner Bowes died on the night of the 9/10th September 1943 and is now commemorated on Panel 2 of the Cassino Memorial in Italy.

Memorial photograph courtesy of CWGC.