Family sought veteran

Kyt · Nov 23, 2008

Family sought of WW2 war veteran - Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM military enthusiast is turning detective in a bid to uncover the story behind a collection of Second World War medals.

Collector Chris Owen is trying to trace the family of a Winson Green soldier who was killed in action in 1941.

Plumber Chris, from Sutton Coldfield, bought the collection of medals and other possessions belonging to gunner Percy Bowen from a London-based dealer.

Mr Bowen is believed to have died in Tobruk, Libya, just days before his 22nd birthday. Chris said: “I think the fact that he was a local chap attracted me to them and I picked them up.

“The dealer had no idea where they came from but it looks as though they have been handed from dealer to dealer.” Chris paid £325 for the find, which contains a 1939-45 Star, Africa Star and Defence Medal.

The collection also includes a dozen family photographs, Mr Bowen’s drivers’ licence, service book plus a touching remembrance card in memory of his mother who died in January 1937.

Now Chris is hoping that the soldier’s family still live in the city and that recent services to mark Remembrance Sunday would jog people’s memories.

“As these medals came with photos it would be nice to put a name to some of the faces,” he added.

“I have been lucky enough to get in touch with other families with other medals I have bought.”

According to the documents held by Chris, Mr Bowen was born on January 17, 1919 to parents Samuel and Elizabeth.

He worked as a tube drawer before enlisting in January 1938 and had two brothers named Frank and Jeffrey.

His service book lists his home address as 11-261 Heath Street in Winson Green, but the envelope in which the medals were posted is addressed to 114/115 Plumstead Road, Kingstanding. Chris said: “A lot of these people gave their lives and there is a danger won’t remember all these stories,” he added.

“Their stories are getting lost as veterans and their families die out.”
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