Rushden Sailor Missing - Able-Seaman Frank Cowley - News Wanted

First report & picture published 25th May

The first intimation that Mr and Mrs Cowley received that their son was missing was through some letters they had addressed to him being returned, these being marked "Wounded."

As time went and no news was received from the sailor himself, a letter was sent to his Commanding Officer, and Mr and Mrs Cowley have received the following reply from Sub-Lieutenant I M Fegan:-

"Dear Mrs Cowley, - My Company Commander has handed me your letter regarding the loss of your son. Your son took part in the recent operations of the Division on April 23rd, and since then nothing has been heard of him. Of course, there is a possibility of his being a prisoner but personally I think there is little hope of this being so. I have made further inquiries to-night, especially from the men who were with him, but regret to say I could not get news. Your son was extremely popular in the company, and his loss is regretted by all. Should any further news be obtained I will let you know immediately, and in the meanwhile, please accept our sympathy in your anxiety."

The missing sailor, who is 28 years of age, formerly worked for the Coxton Shoe Company, Rushden. He joined the Royal Naval Division two years a go last October, and went to France in February this year.

His parents are naturally in very great anxiety of mind concerning his fate, and appeal through the medium of our columns to nay of his comrades who can send them any further information. Mr and Mrs Cowley will be grateful to head from anyone who can tell them at what period of the engagement their son was last seen, and whether, at that time he received any wounds.

Any such information should be addressed to Mrs George Cowley, 14 Portland-road, Rushden, Northants, Eng. Mr and Mrs Cowley have two other sons serving in the Colours - Lance-Corpl Arthur Cowley, Northumberland Fusiliers, who is in France, and Pte G H Cowley, Northants Regt., at present stationed at Tring.

An adopted son, Gunner F Groom, of the RGA, is in France, and two sons-in-law are also fighting for their country.

In a letter recently received from Lance-Corpl A Cowley he says: "I am glad to tell you that I have come through one of the greatest bombardments of the war till no. I think most of the Northants chaps who came out with me are either killed or wounded, and I must think myself very lucky, and hope I shall remain so until the end of the warm if you can call it war. I call it murder; the guns roar from morn till morn again, and when they have done their bit the earth is upside down, not room for a mouse to live, but we don't have it all our own way, for Fritz can pout up a bombardment almost equal to ours."

Lce-Cpl A Cowley, A.B. F Cowley & Pte. G H Cowley

Official news has come to Mrs. Cowley, of 20, Victoria-road, Rushden, that her husband, Lce.-Corpl. Arthur Cowley, Northumberland Fusiliers, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Cowley, of 14, Portland-road, Rushden, was killed in action on March 29th. Lce-Corpl. Cowley joined the Colours in November, 1915, and went to France after nine months training. Before enlisting he was employed at Messrs. E. Claridge and Sons’ boot factory. A brother, A.B. Frank Cowley, Royal Naval Division, was killed on April 23rd, 1917. His other brother, Signaller George Herbert Cowley, was wounded in the left arm on March 27th last, and is now in hospital at Glasgow, and went to France in September. Previous to joining up he worked at Messrs. W. Green and Sons’ boot factory.