Harland and Wolff - Shipbuilding and Engineering Works

Born and living in Lisburn, before the war he was an apprentice caulker at Queen’s Island. He volunteered in September 1914 and enlisted at Lisburn, in 11 RIR, embarking with them for France, from Bordon, in October 1915. Involved in the fighting on the Somme on the 1.7.16 and at Messines in early June 1917 he came through both engagements without serious injury. However, he was wounded during the fighting at Langemarck in Belgium on the 16 August 1917 which resulted in a prolonged convalescence. Subsequently transferred to 12 RIR (17484), he returned to the front on Good Friday 1918 and was KIA in Belgium two weeks later on the 15.4.18. His death is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium, panels 138-140. He was the youngest son of Joseph Cowan of 3 Wallace Avenue, Lisburn and brother of Stephen Cowan who by 1920 was living in Toronto, Canada. In April 1920 his parents and brother inserted In Memoriam notices in the Standard on the second anniversary of his death.