Christopher Richard Fowler died of wounds on this day in 1915
Christopher Richard Fowler was born 27 February 1893 in Hackney, London.
Dick, as he was known to friends and family, was the son of parents Arthur and Laura (née Pauling). Arthur Fowler ran a letterpress printing business. At the 1901 Census, Dick lived on St. Mary's Road, Willesden with his parents, five siblings and a live-in domestic servant. He was eventually one of nine children.
He was educated at Xaverian College, Mayfield, Sussex and St. Edmund’s College, Old Hall, Ware.
A keen sportsman, Dick played cricket and football for Neasden Sports Clubs.
At the 1911 Census, age 18, Dick was living in Willesden at 22 Craven Park Road with the family and working as an apprenticed Printer and Bookbinder through the Stationers’ Company which his father owned. Nine of them lived in an eleven-roomed house: parents, six children and a housemaid.
In 1914, the family were living at 12 Grange Park, Ealing.
Dick enlisted on the outbreak of war in the Honourable Artillery Company. His enthusiasm and skill at football continued becoming ‘the heart and soul of the battalion football team’. The 1st Bn HAC served in France from 18 September 1914.
During an attack on a German position on 13 March 1915 at around 4:30pm, Dick was hit in the head by machine gun fire. He was returned, unconscious, by stretcher to the dressing station. He was seen by the clergyman Mr Peacey, but later died of his wounds.
He is buried in Loker Churchyard, Heuvelland nine miles from Ypres.
1465 Pte Christopher 'Dick' Fowler, 1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company