2nd Lieut William Hall Jowett

• Age: 22
• From: Grassendale, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 28th June 1916
• Commemorated at: La Neuville Cc Corbie
  Panel Ref: A.73

William Hall Jowett was one of twin boys born in March, 1894 (from school Roll of Honour) to William Hall Jowett senior and his wife Emily (née Sutcliffe). His father was a chemist who in the 1881 and 1891 Censuses is shown as living in lodgings in Blackburn.  

On the 21st January 1892 his father married Emily at St Paul's Church, Blackburn. John was a chemist of 171 Preston New Road, father John a deceased wool stapler (grader), whilst Emily was of 131 Preston New Road, father John a deceased merchant. They had moved to Liverpool prior to the birth of their twin sons, William Hall junior and John Sutcliffe Jowett. Both were baptised at St Mary's Church, Grassendale on 10th May 1894, their father a chemist of 2 Mayfield Road, Cressington.

In 1898 they had a third son, Harold Crosby Jowett and the 1901 Census shows the three boys living with Emily’s 40 year old cousin, Elizabeth Bushby, at ‘Ardencraig’, Southbank Road, Grassendale, Liverpool.  William and John are 7 years of age and Harold is aged 2. There are four servants declared in the household. There is no record of their parents in 1901.

On the 23rd September 1908, his father, William senior died, aged 49, years and was buried in St Nicholas’s Churchyard, Halewood.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Wednesday 23 September 1908: 

DEATH OF ALDERMAN JOWETT.  

We regret to announce that Alderman W. Hall Jowett J.P., died shortly before noon today at his residence Ardencraig, Grassendale, from typhoid fever, which was complicated by pneumonia a few days ago. The Alderman contracted a severe attack of typhoid fever, and his condition caused the greatest anxiety to the members of his family throughout the weekend.  Pneumonia supervened on Monday, and he gradually sank despite the constant attention of Dr Humphreys, the family physician, and Dr Barlow of Liverpool, who had been called in as consulting physician this morning. No hope was held out for his recovery, and he died shortly before 12 o'clock. The late Alderman, a member of a well-known Cumberland family, was managing director of Messrs. Clayton and Jowett Limited, essence distillers, Concert Street, Liverpool, and resided at 3 South Bank Road, Grassendale. For some years before the absorption of Garston in the city, he was prominently identified with public affairs of the district now forming the Aigburth and Garston wards, and he took a considerable share in the negotiations for the amalgamation of Garston with the city. On their inclusion in the municipal area in 1902, he was elected to the City Council and elevated to the aldermanic bench for Garston Ward on the retirement of Dr J. E. Tinne. Both in the election of Garston councillors and in the parliamentary and municipal affairs of the South-end, he maintained an active interest, usually presiding at Conservative election meetings, and often advocating the claims of Garston in the Council chamber. He was chairman of the Garston Conservative committee for the Widnes parliamentary division. To his efforts were largely due the early establishment of a branch free library and baths at Garston. He was placed on the Commission of the Peace for the city in 1903, and served assiduously on the rota at the Dale Street and Garston police courts. He was a Fellow of the Chemical Society. Only three weeks ago whilst upon the Garston bench, Alderman Jowett made sympathetic reference to the death of the Liverpool stipendiary (Mr W. J. Steers.) Alderman Jowett was a Churchman, and attended the Cressington Parish Church where he was sidesman. The deceased Alderman was also the founder of the Aigburth Conservative club and was its first chairman. He took considerable interest in the affairs of Garston and district, and was a keen fighter at the election times. He will therefore be missed by his party at the forthcoming municipal elections. He was also a conscientious magistrate, and of a charitable disposition. Alike in social, commercial, and political circles, he was highly esteemed and popular. His demise will come as a shock, following so soon after his appearance both at his office, and on the bench. Apparently in robust health, as well as in the prime of life, he leaves a wife and three sons.  

MAGISTERIAL SYMPATHY. 

At the quarterly meeting of the Liverpool city justices this afternoon, a vote of condolence with the widow and family of Alderman Jowett was adopted on the motion of Sir Charles Petrie, Alderman Ephriam Walker seconding, and Mr G. H. Hewitt supporting. It transpired that the late Alderman attended to Watch Committee meeting eight days ago. Mr Howitt, who served on the Garston Amalgamation committee with Mr Jowett, said the latter took deep interest in the Accident Hospital at Garston. He was a most kindly man, esteemed by all who knew him. 

Details of his funeral were reported in the Liverpool Echo on Saturday 26 September 1908: 

FUNERAL OF ALDERMAN JOWETT. 

A numerous company of mourners representing the Liverpool City Council, magisterial bench, and political, commercial, and social bodies assembled in St Mary's Church, Cressington Park, at noon today, on the occasion of the funeral of Alderman W. Jowett, whose death occurred on Wednesday. His remains were conveyed from the residence to South Bank Road, Grassendale, to the church of which Alderman Jowett had been a churchwarden, and as the mourners congregated Chopin’s “Funeral March” was played. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. T. H. P. Hyatt (vicar), assisted by the Rev. P. J. A. Francis (curate). The Lord Mayor sent his carriage. After the service the remains were interred at Halewood Church. 

Probate was awarded at Liverpool on 26th November:- 

JOWETT William Hall of Ardencraig, Grassendale Lancashire esquire J.P. died 23 September 1908 Probate Liverpool 26 November to Samuel Crossley esquire J.P. and Thomas Armistead Ward wholesale chemist and drugist. Effects £20,269 0s 10d. 

The 1911 Census shows Emily, aged 50, born in Burnley, and her cousin, Elizabeth Ellen Bushby, aged 50, born Blackburn, living at 3 Southbank Road, presumably ‘Ardencraig’, with 3 servants. 

Her three sons were all boarders at Loretto School, Edinburgh, where all three became members of the school’s Combined Cadet Force. William was a member for 3 years, leaving school in 1912; John Sutcliffe became a Sergeant in the school Officers Training Corps, leaving school in 1913; Harold Crossley Jowett was a pupil at the school until 1916.

All three boys enlisted following the outbreak of war in 1914, all three receiving a commission. 2^nd Lieutenant William Hall Jowett served with the 20^th Battalion KLR and died in hospital on 28^th June 1916, aged 22, of wounds sustained during an enemy artillery bombardment on 26^th June 1916. He was the first of 23 officers of the 20^th Battalion who were to lose their lives over the next couple of years.

Graham Maddocks states that during the night of 26^th June the 17^th Battalion lost 17 other ranks killed and 57 wounded. 

20th Battalion War Diary 

MARICOURT 

26/6/16 10p.m. - In the trenches as the previous day - Very active artillery by enemy. Batt. relieved 2nd Batt. Bedfords line Regiment in the left of subsection Z1 commencing at 10p.m. H.Q. in Cobham Street.  

Casualties - wounded Captain G.H. BRADSHAW, 2/Lt H. LANCASTER, 2/Lt W. H. JOWETT.  

56 O.R. killed and wounded. Lt R. D. PATERSON shell shock. 

[Lt Paterson returned to action but was later KIA 12/10/1916] 

William now rests at La Neuville Communal Cemetery, Corbie, in Grave A73.  His headstone bears the epitaph:

"THY WILL BE DONE"

In April 1916, No.21 Casualty Clearing Station came to La Neuville and remained there throughout the 1916 Battles of the Somme, until March 1917. La Neuville British Cemetery was opened early in July 1916, but burials were also made in the communal cemetery. Most of them date from this period, but a few graves were added during the fighting on the Somme in 1918. The communal cemetery contains 186 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The graves form one long row on the eastern side of the cemetery.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 03rd July 1916:

DIED OF WOUNDS

HALL JOWETT - June 28, aged 22 years. Second Lieutenant William Hall Jowett, King's Liverpool Regiment, dearly loved eldest son of the late Alderman William Hall Jowett JP and Mrs Jowett, Ardencraig, Grassendale.      

His family suffered further dreadful loss when his two brothers were also killed during the war:

2^nd Lieutenant Harold Crossley Jowett, of the 7^th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action on 01^st September 1918, he rests at Bancourt British Cemetery. His headstone bears the epitaph:

"THY WILL BE DONE"

Captain John Sutcliffe Jowett served the Manchester Regiment, but just three weeks after his brother had been killed he died of his wounds on 22nd September 1918 in hospital and now rests at Mount Huon Military Cemetery at Le Treport. His headstone bears the epitaph:

"THY WILL BE DONE"

This is one of many incidents of multiple deaths within families during WW1.

Harold's death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 23 September 1918: 

JOWETT - September 1, killed in action, aged HAROLD CROSSLEY JOWETT (Second-Lieutenant, Lancashire Fusiliers), dearly-loved youngest son of the late Alderman William Hall Jowett, and Mrs. Jowett, Ardencraig, Grassendale. 

The loss of three sons was reported in the Blackburn Weekly Telegraph on Saturday 28 September 1918: 

THREE SOLDIER SONS KILLED.  

Former Blackburn Lady's Bereavement.  

Blackburn friends of the late Alderman W. H. Jowett and Mrs Jowett, of Grassendale, near Liverpool, formerly of this town, will learn with sorrow that their three soldier sons have all been killed in the war. The first to make the supreme sacrifice, Lieutenant W. H. Jowett (Liverpool Regt.), had only been in France a few weeks when, about two years ago, he was killed in action. Lieut. Harold Crossley Jowett (Lancashire Fusiliers), a godson of the late Alderman S. Crossley, who was educated at Malvern College, joined the O.T.C, in December, 1916, went to France in the following October, and was killed on September 1. On Sunday last the eldest son, Capt. John Sutcliffe Jowett (Manchester Regt.), died of wounds received a few days previously in action in France. He joined the service immediately war broke out, served in Gallipoli, was invalided home, and later went to France. 

http://www.roydenhistory.co.uk/halewood/warmemorial/photos/photos.htm 

Soldiers Effects to mother Emily, and brothers Harold and John, £27 18s 10d each, no pension was awarded. 

On the 1921 Census mother, aged 60, is still living at Ardencraig with cousin Elizabeth. 

She died, aged 70, on the 27th May 1931 and was buried at St Nicholas, Halewood. 

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Saturday 30 May 1931: 

JOWETT— May 27, at 1 The Serpentine, Grassendale EMILY, the widow of W. Hall Jowett. Service at St Mary’s Church, Grassendale on Monday next at 11 30 a.m. Interment at Halewood Church at 12 30 p.m. (Will all friends kindly accept this -the only- intimation?)

The three Jowett brothers are commemorated on the following Memorials:

Woolton Golf Club

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall Panel 60 Left.

William is also commemorated on the Mersey Bowmen memorial.

We currently have no further information on William Hall Jowett. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.