Private William Cowan

Private William James Cowan, 1st Battalion, Scots Guards. He was killed in action in Belgium on 10th October 1917, aged 24, during the Third Battle of Ypres. He was the son of James Cowan of Cauldside, Canonbie and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Flanders, Belgium. Before enlisting he had been a farm worker in Newcastleton. He had been already wounded in September 1916 at Guinchy and had rejoined in August 1917.  Only his identity disc and a letter were recovered to send back to his father. He fell in the successful advance to capture the designated German positions near Houthulst Forest. This action cost the Battalion  1 Officer and 33 Other Ranks killed with 3 Officers and 141 Other Ranks wounded. The photographs show the desolation of the Flanders battlefield where the incessant shelling had destroyed the drainage systems.