McGowan, W (William)
Private William McGowan was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John McGowan, of Ferry Quay St., Coleraine, Co. Londonderry.
The battalion William was to join during mid-July had moved to Louvencourt[1] in France on the 16th of June 1916 in preparation for an attack in the area. They were the 1st Battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers. A bombardment of the German line began on the 24th at 5 am and continued night and day while the men practised and prepared to attack. The 36th Division was on their right at Thiepval Woods.
The 1st Inniskillings were set to attack on the 28th but due to bad weather, this was delayed 48 hours until the 1st of July. The night of the 30th found them raiding the German trenches, just in case of further delays. Casualties for June, including the attack of the 30th were 21 killed, missing, or wounded.
The day of the “Great Offensive” began with the 1st Inniskillings having 952 men ready for attack. The platoons would advance in single file. “B Platoon” first, followed by “A Platoon” and then “D Platoon.” “C platoon” stayed in reserve. There were only 3 lines of trenches ahead of them.
Within a short period of time the men of the 1st Inniskilling were decimated by German machinegun fire. They could not advance, retreat, or bring up reserves. Casualties were 559 men dead, wounded or missing, including their commanding officer. The remaining men rallied at an area called “St. John’s Road” only to be pulled into reserve the next day. By the 9th the strength of the battalion was down to just 21 officers and 360 men of other ranks.
Private William McGowan joined the decimated 1st battalion after this disaster on the 14th of July 1916, just in time for their move to the Ypres area of Belgium.
During the 9th of August while the battalion was at the front line, manning trenches. The Germans released a large concentration of gas. Casualties were 49 killed and 87 wounded. 39 of the wounded men died afterwards from the effects of their wounds. William was lucky, he was wounded and would survive.
Private William McGowan was deemed by the 15th of August 1916 to be unfit or no longer fit enough to serve with the 1st Inniskillings and was transferred to the 459th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps.[2] He would spend the rest of the war with them until he fell very ill again, possibly because of the lingering effects or his weakened immune system, all caused by the gas attack on the 9th August 1916.
Unfortunately, William passed away in the Military Hospital in Seaforth a year later.
Private William McGowan was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.
Date of Death: 19/02/1919 (Aged 32)
Service: Private, 459th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps, formerly, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Service Number: 84757 and 29051
Burial Location: Coleraine (St. John) Roman Catholic Churchyard.
[1] Louvencourt is an area in the north west of France.
[2] Most soldiers in the Royal Defence Corps were employed at prisoner of war camps, although they also performed other duties.
