11th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
25/11/1897
Died:
01/07/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
18
Summary
Enoch Bowen was the youngest son of John and Elizabeth Bowen. He was born on 25th November 1897. He was the youngest of at least ten children, all born in the Coalisland area. Enoch’s father, John Bowen, died on 18th November 1899, age 45. Enoch was two years old. By the 1911 census lists Enoch’s mother had also died. He enlisted on 18th March 1914 at Portadown. Private Enoch Bowen was serving with the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of his wounds on 1st July 1916, age 18.
Further Information
Enoch Bowen was the youngest son of John and Elizabeth Bowen. John Bowen and Elizabeth Fowler were married on 11th February 1876 in the district of Dungannon.
Enoch Bowen was born on 25th November 1897. He was the youngest of at least ten children, all born in the Coalisland area.
Known family: John Bowen, Elizabeth Bowen, Adam Bowen (born 3rd October 1880), John Bowen (born 31st January 1883), Anna Norah Bowen (born 26th February 1886), Margaret Bowen (born 11th November 1887, died 20th July 1888), William Bowen (born 9th June 1889), James Bowen (born about 1990), Elizabeth Bowen (born 16th August 1891), Margaret Bowen (born 23rd April 1893), Thomas Herbert Bowen (born 29th January 1895), Enoch Bowen (born 25th November 1897).
It seems Enoch’s father, John Bowen, died on 18th November 1899, age 45. Enoch was two years old.
The 1901 census lists Enoch as age 3, living with the family at house 23 in Tamlaghtmore, Drumaspil, County Tyrone. His mother was a widow and a farmer.
By the 1911 census lists Enoch as age 14, living with the family at house 31 in Tamlaghtmore. Enoch’s mother seems also to have died. Eldest brother Adam was now the family head and the 14 year old scholar Enoch was still at home.
Enoch Bowen was a member of Killyman Company of the Ulster Volunteer Force (U.V.F).
He was a brother of Mrs McMinn of Derrylee.
Enoch Bowen enlisted on 18th March 1914 at Portadown with the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Private Bowen arrived in France on 5th October 1915.
In a letter home to his sister, dated 14th October 1914, which formed the basis of his will, Enoch writes:
Sunday 14th October 1914, Dear sister, I now sit down to write you these few lines hoping to find you all well as I am in ripping health at present. I got the fags you sent, but I thought I would have to get a lighter too. I am not in the trenches yet. We might not be in them for the next six months. I got a letter from John Hazelton and Lizzie sent me a postcard. I was glad to hear from them. I wrote to John Irwin. The
other day I got a letter from you the other day and you were saying you were talking to him so I wrote to him and I am writing to John Hazelton and Lizzie today as well. I have my will made out in my paybook and I am leaving my money to you and you can give the half of it to ww Tommie. That's if I be shot but I hope by the help of the almighty God that I will live a little while longer. I think I will
see yous all again. Tell Bob I was asking for him. Send my love to the children and yourself. All I want out here is fags and some matches and they will do me over a month. I would send you the money for them only the money we get here is no good in Ireland. You could not get it changed so I am gathering it up and I will get it changed into English money and I will send you some. I am never thinking long out here. It takes a letter three days coming here. How is Adam and the wife getting on? Tell them I was asking for them. This is a field service envelope I am sending this time. You know I am not supposed to put anything in the letters I am writing. I am not allowed to tell you what part of the country I am in. This is all the news at present from your loving brother Enoch Bowen – you know the address.
Private Enoch Bowen was with the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of his wounds on 1st July 1916, age 18.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 13 July 1916:
Private Enoch Bowen, wounded, son of the late Mr John Bowen, Tamnamore, Dungannon
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th July 1916:
Private Enoch Bowen, Tyrone Volunteers, wounded, son of the late Mr John Bowen, Tamnamore, Dungannon.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 20 July 1916:
Private G Bleekes, Stewartstown, and E Bowen, Derrylee, Inniskillings, are reported wounded.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 10 August 1916:
Mrs McMinn, Derrylee, has received intimation that her brother, Private Enoch Bowen, Tyrone Volunteers, has died of wounds. He was a member of Killyman Company of the Ulster Volunteer Force (U.V.F).
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 12th August 1916: Private Bowen
Mrs McMinn, Derrylee, Moy, has received official intimation that her brother, Private Enoch Bowen, of the Tyrone Volunteers, has died of wounds received during the recent advance. He was an efficient member of the Killyman Company, Dungannon Battalion, Ulster Volunteer Force (U.V.F), and well known in the district.
Private Bowen is buried in Connaught Cemetery, Thiepval, France.
Private Enoch Bowen is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC record Private Enoch Bowen as the son of the late John Bowen, of Tamnamore, Moy, County Tyrone.
