Bowmer, Vernon |
Rank: |
Lieutenant |
Regiment: |
Royal Fusiliers; Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) |
Regimental No. & Battalion |
21st R.Fusliers; 16th Btn |
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Status: |
Died of wounds |
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Research Notes |
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Medal card: 21 Royal Fusiliers PS/6262; Notts & Derby Commission 4/8/16; to France 14/11/15; widow 144 Bloor St East; Toronto, Canada Extract from SUPPLEMENT to the LONDON GAZETTE 26 January 1917: “Temp. 2nd Lt. Vernon Bowmer, Notts. & Derby. B. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his platoon with great dash and showed marked initiative and ability. He organised bombing parties and accounted for a large number of Germans. 
Derbyshire Times 3 February 1917 CRICH OFFICER HONOURED
Source: cwgc
 Vernon once played for Chesterfield Town Football Club – from the Chesterfield FC Official Website Lieutenant Vernon Bowmer, of Crich, played once for the Town side. He served with the 16th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. He survived the shooting war but was badly wounded, and died in a military hospital at Bath on October 9th, 1919. He won the Military Cross in 1917 for conspicuous gallantry in action, having organised bombing parties that, according to his citation, "accounted for a large number of Germans." Vernon was the son of John Bowmer and Mary Ann Hartstone; he married Dorothy Phillipa Perrett in 1918. Vernon also played football for Crich. The photograph below shows him, with other Bowmer relatives, outside the Cliff Inn at Crich. Photo courtesy Sue Worboys 1901 Census: Park Head, Crich
1911 Census: Crich
Vernon Bowmer's brothers Arthur Bowmer , Ernest Bowmer and Alfred Bowmer are also on the Roll of Honour. He is interred in the family grave which is on the left up the path to church. He lies with his wife beneath the right hand stone which bears the regimental crest. His family, who lived near the cross, lie beside him and his older ancestors rest in front of the church door. |
It was announced in the "London Gazette" on the 26th January that His Majesty the King had been graciously pleased to confer the Military Cross on Second Lieutenant Vernon Bowmer, of the Sherwood Foresters, The official account was a follows: – "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his platoon with great dash and showed marked initiative and ability. He organised bombing parties and accounted for a large number of Germans" Lieutenant Bowmer is the fifth son of Mr and Mrs John Bowmer of White House, Crich. He enlisted in the Public Schoolboy's Corps in the early stages of the War, and earned his commission whilst fighting on the Western Front. On his promotion he was attached to the Sherwoods. Since he won the distinction referred to above ne has been severely wounded by machine-gun fire, and has unfortunately lost his left eye, but we are glad to hear that he is now making satisfactory progress at St Mark's College, Chelsea, which is now a hospital. Lieut. Bowmer was educated at Crich British and Wirksworth Grammar Schools, and on leaving the latter he elected to enter the Civil Service, and was some considerable time in London. He however left the Metropolis to take up a position at the Derby establishment of Messrs Bemrose and Sons, where he was engaged at the time War broke out. He is a member of the Crich Baptist Church, and in pre-war days took an interest in Sunday School work. An all-round athlete he is a worthy representative of the renown "Bowmer" family of Crich sportsmen. He was the popular outside-right of the Crich Town Football Club, and is also experienced at cricket, tennis, running, etc., and at billiards knows how to handle a cue. Four of Mr and Mrs Bowmer's sons are in the Army.the other being ineligible owing to loss of a limb in an accident years ago. Lieut. Bowmer is 21 years of age and single. His success is particularly gratifying to the inhabitants of the parish of Crich.