The son of John and Sarah E. of Tilbury, Kent Co.   Pte. 189383, 91^st / 186 / 18^th Bn. DOB: 24/11/1896. RG 150, Accession 1992 – 93/ 166 Box: 2075-18, Item: 122005, PDF: B2075-SO18. Transferred from the 91^st Batt to 186^th 28/02/16. Of Tilbury, Kent Co. ON. N of K: Sarah Ellen, Cowley mother (widowed). Post Box 235, Tilbury. He was single. 

Attestation: 15/11/1915 : Age 18 yrs., Height: 5’ 10 1/2”, Girth: 34”, Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Dark. A Butcher by trade.

Trained at Camp Borden 13/09/16 to the 91^st Batt. 19/11/1915 to the 186^th overseas Batt. 28/02/16. The unit sailed 28/03/1917 from Halifax aboard the S. S. Lapland departed 28/03/17. Debarked in England 7/04/17 at Liverpool. Transferred to the 18^th Batt from the 4^th Reserves Batt. In the Field 22/04/18 

Circumstances of Death Register: “KIA on the night of 22 Apr. 1918 he was instantly killed by enemy shell when he was on a working in close support line at Neuville. 

Contributed by E. Edwards.

KIA 22/04/1918. Buried at Bellacourt Military Cem. – Pas de Calais III . E. 9.

 

Tilbury Times,

Thursday, 6 June, 1918 pg. 1

“Letters From the Front”

Hospital for Officers,

Marylebone, N. W. London, England.

Dear Mrs. Cowley,

   Sickness which has brought me from France to the above address has prevented me until the present moment, in offering my deepest sympathy in connection with the death of your son Arch.

   For a long time, in fact, ever since we joined the 91^st togetherI have known of your late son. I can assure you that at all times he was the soldier and the gentleman, a fine leader in every respect. He was rapidly making his presence known and felt in France, and had he but lived, well earned promotion would have been forthcoming shortly.

   Your son was in command of a party on fatigue and was struck by a piece of bursting shell. He died at his post with his face to the fore; he knew no fear, always one of the first to go over. He was a favorite with the officers and men alike. Archie’s passing will leave a vacancy in the battalion extremely hard to fill, he went out smiling, that same smile we used to see so often on the baseball field when he pitched himself into a tight corner and was coolly proceeding to pitch himself out again. He has pitched his last game but we all know that on the new field above he “shines” again and even more brilliantly. Just at present I know it will be hard for you at home to realize the reason for his taking but I trust the time will come when you clearly may see and understand the right of it all. I his platoon commander also shall miss him very much. Again, may I offer my keenest sympathy in connection with your irreparable loss.

Very sincerely,

Douglas Oliver, Lieut.

18^th Canadians.   

NOTE:

Lieut. Douglas Robertson Oliver was born at Ruthven, ON. the son of Dr. and Mrs. Oliver. He was living in Chatham and working as a reporter for the Planet Printing Co. in Chatham. He enlisted in the 91^st Bn. in St. Thomas in October of 1915 at the age of 21 years, a contemporary of Pte. Cowley. Douglas was promoted to the rank of Captain in September, 1918 and returned to Canada after the was in charge of D-Company if the 18^th Bn. JRH.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cenotaph	Chatham and Kent County Cenotaph - Chatham
Sources	Chatham Daily Planet (03-05-1918), Chatham Daily Planet (04-05-1918), Chatham Daily Planet (27-09-1919), Tilbury Story - Community History (4/11/92), MGF, GOH Additional information.
Supplemental Information	Mother: Mrs. John Cowley, Tilbury

Height	5' 10 1/2"
Eye Colour	Brown
Age	18 yrs.
Complexion	Dark
Hair	Brown
Race	White
Birthplace	Tilbury, Ontario
Religion	Protestant
Last Place of Employment	Auto Top Company, Tilbury, Ontario
Average Earnings	4/day
Marital Status	single
When Enlisted	Nov. 1915
Where Enlisted	Tilbury, Ontario
Allowance from Patriotic Fund	22/mth

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