Born in Tilbury, ON. The son of Isaac and Louisa Cowan of Tilbury. Attested with the 33^rd Bn, in August of 1915, left for England in March of 1916 and in May of 1916 went to France with a draft of 250 men from the 33^rd to the Royal Canadian Regt. He served with the RCR throughout the war save for 24 days of leave from May 1916 to November 1918.

He was with the RCR one of the four regiments of the 7^th Brigade of the CEF involved in the capture of Mons on the last day of the war. Wilfred made it through to war “without a scratch”, eight men of the regiment lost their lives on 11 November. He reported that “The eight men were given a big public funeral by the citizens of Mons.”

Wilfred remained in Belgium with the Regiment until 6 February, 1919 when they left for England. They returned to Canada aboard the S.S. Adriatic and were “royally used on the return trip, and when they landed at Halifax 15/03/19. He returned to Tilbury in good health and spoke highly of the treatment they received from the English people. TT 20/03/19 “Two Tilbury Soldiers Return”.

Tilbury Times, Thursday,

30 September, 1965.

Wilfred I. Cowan Dies in England.

“Wilfred I. Cowan, 70 , a native of Tilbury died on September15, 1965, at Bexley, Kent, England. Survivors are his wife Ada, son Leslie of Concord Green Lane, Radmage, High Wycombe, Bucks, England; a daughter Mrs. Peter G. Barker, Scottville, Dietermaritzburg, Natal, S. Africa. A brother George of Tilbury; sisters Mrs. Ruth Johnson, and Mrs. Irene Morris of Tilbury. A veteran of the First World War, Wilfred enlisted at Tilbury in the 33^rd regiment and was transferred to the Royal Canadian Regt. Returning to Canada at the close of the war, he and his wife were residents of this town for a few years, then returned to the old land to reside permanently.

Discharged at Halifax March 15th, 1919 due to demobilization.

GOH Additional Information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

IODE(P), Chatham Daily News (14-04-1919), TT (20/03/19), TT-Obit (30/09/65)

Height	6' 1"
Eye Colour	Brown
Age	20
Complexion	Dark
Hair	Black
Race	White
Birthplace	Tilbury East, Ontario
Religion	Presbyterian
Last Place of Employment	F.S. Carr Rubber Company, Tilbury, Ontario.
Average Earnings	$2.00 per day
Marital Status	Single
When Enlisted	August 1915
Where Enlisted	London, Ontario
Next of Kin	Father- Isaac Cowan, Tilbury, Ontario. Mother- Mrs. Louisa Cowan.

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