Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1873 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/757, the
3rd son of Sir Thomas & Lady Emily Sowler (nee Yates).

1881 Census - 4 Oxford Place, Rusholme, Manchester.   Son - aged: 8 - born:
Manchester.   Head of household - Thomas Sowler - Married - aged: 62 - occ:
Newspaper Proprietor - born: Manchester.   Also Emily Sowler - Wife - aged:
42 - born: Manchester.   Plus 2 younger siblings, an aunt and 6 domestic
servants.

His father - Thomas Sowler died during the June quarter 1891 - aged: 72.

1891 Census - "Oak Bank", Oxford Place, Rusholme, Manchester.   Son - aged:
18 - occ: Journalist - born:  Manchester.    Head of household - Emily
Sowler - Widow - aged: 52 - born: Manchester.   Plus 3 siblings, an aunt
and 6 domestic servants.

In 1894 he married Helen J. Gossip in Australia.  Helen was born in the
UK.

On the 13th April 1900, he sailed from Southampton on the S.S. Canada to be
second in command of the 77th Company, Imperial Yeomanry out in South
Africa.  This was reported in the 21st April 1900 edition of the Manchester
Courier.  In November 1900 it was reported that his commanding officer -
Captain G.R. Crosfield was seriously ill in hospital at Heilbron, Orange
River Colony, suffering from Enteric Fever.  Lieutenant Sowler has now
taken command of the Company.

1901 Census - No Trace, presumably serving in South Africa?    His mother,
aged: 62 and now listed as LADY Emily Sowler, was still residing at "Oak
Bank", Oxford Place, Rusholme, Manchester.

His mother - Emily Sowler died in 1904 - aged: 66.

1911 Census - No Trace.

MIC - states that he originally served as a Captain with the 2nd East Lancs
Territorial Division R.F.A.  On the 21st August 1914 he was posted to
Egypt.   Later posted to France where he became a Supervisor of Labour
attached to a Prisoner of War Camp until the 29th September 1918.   He
applied for his 1914/15 Star on the 12th January 1919.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone (Vault) in St. Mary's,
Bowdon. Grave No. 1744. Buried 06/07/1921 - Burial No. 30/1902.

His father - Thomas Sowler, Esq., of Manchester, was Honorary Colonel of
the 7th Manchester (19th Lancashire) Volunteer Artillery, and proprietor of
the two Manchester Conservative Newspapers, including the Manchester
Courier.

His father Sir Thomas died 04/04/1891 aged 73 and his mother, Emily died
18/11/1904 aged 66.