Oliver William BOWDLER, 13th Batt. Gloucester Regt (General)

by JaneyH , Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Friday, September 19, 2014, 09:27 (3721 days ago) @ JaneyH

I've finally received the pension records from the Western Front Association about my great grandfather, Oliver William Bowdler.

It confirms he was a private in the Gloucestershire Regiment, although doesn't mention the 13th Battalion specifically. The address given is Severn Street, Newnham - which I have from other sources. What it does give me, which I'm sure will be the spur to further research, is his service number: 17909. I've looked at the Army Service Numbers website and - although the block of numbers 179xx is not specifically referenced it would appear highly likely that Oliver's number would have been issued in the first quarter of 1915. The pension record shows that he was discharged on 16 June 1916, stating that he suffered from tuberculosis.

Most of the rest of the card is a list of dates and initials, which I assume refer to medicals to assess his ongoing health. In November 1920 it states that his degree of disablement was 70%; he received a pension (not gratuity or weekly allowance); payment of the pension was conditional (not permanent or final) and he received 28/- per week and his wife 33/3. It notes that he had six children aged under 16 at the time. In December 1921 the disablement was assessed as 100% and payments increased to 40/- for Oliver and 47/6 for his wife. In November 1922 disablement was assessed 80% and payments reduced. Judging by the dates on the card he continued to receive medicals (and presumably payments) until 1931.

The card also includes addresses in Wales, where Oliver moved to around 1922, so these will also help piece together the family history more generally.

Lots more to do and look up now - and fortuitously I have a day off work! As I've previously posted on the Great War Forum about this I'll add an update there too.