Letter from Edwin Telford to Cowan's Family

Somewhere in France.

3rd December, 1918.

My Dear.......

I don’t know who I have the honour of addressing this letter to, but I am writing in the hopes that the owner of the enclosed photo will receive it and also I hope that my letter will give some information that may be useful to some dear friend or relation of Lt.J.Cowan. I will tell you how I got in my possession of this photo and paper cuttings. Last Saturday I got two days’ leave to visit my cousin’s grave. His name is Capt. Maurice L. Cooper and he was also in the Royal Air Force. He was bombing a train on the Pitthem Thourout Railway and he was shot down and killed. I succeeded in finding his grave and I will tell you exactly as near as I can, the position of his grave and why I tell you is because I understand Lt.Cowan is buried quite near the same place.

Before I go any further I would like to say that I did not actually see the grave and what I am telling you is what I was told by a French or Belgian civilian – Well there is a railway running from a town called Pittem to a town called Thourout; in this railway there us a very large bending or curve, my cousin is buried just beside the Railway at this curve. I found the grave and had just finished taking some photos of the place when a Belgian civilian came up to me and produced the enclosed photo and paper cutting and he said the owner of them had fallen and was buried about half a mile from the place I have described to you. I asked him for the photo, which he refused to give me as he said that Mademoiselle (that is the lady in the photograph) was the only person that he would give it to. I think the mean rascal wanted paid for it but as he spoke Flemish and knew very little French I found it very hard to understand what he said so I may be doing him an injustice. However, I succeeded in getting it from him on conditions that I got Mademoiselle to write to him. His address is:-

Monsieur Disere Boddin,

Gits les Roulers,

Flandre Ocidentale, Belgium

If you do write to him and if you wish to get any further details from him, I’m afraid it will be necessary for you to get the letter written in Flemish to get any satisfaction. I certainly advise you not to send him any money.

The nearest town of any size to the place is Roulers and the nearest railway station is Gits station, which is in the North of Belgium. I wish I was in a position to give you more information but I am very glad to be able to send you the enclosed photo.

Whoever you may be, I offer you my heartfelt sympathy for your great loss. And may I conclude by saying, that if you think that I can, in any way, assist you, I will be only too pleased to do all I can for you if you will write to

Yours sincerely,
Edwin A.Telford, Capt. M.C.
Connaught Rangers,
Attahced 15th Royal Irish Rifles BEF,
France.

Combat Report 590

Date: October 9th 1918
Time: 10-50 pm
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2524
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: Lieut. G.F.Manning
Observer: Sergt. H.F.Monday
Locality: COURTRAI
Duty: Offensive Patrol and Bombing
Height: 14,000 ft
Result: Destroyed One
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplane.

Whilst on O.P., we had just dropped our bomb at COURTRAI, when we observed 12 Fokker Bi-planes approaching from N.E. My observer singled out one E.A. and opened fire with double Lewis Guns, and after a fairly short burst, E.A. caught fire and went down out of control. We were unable to pin point crash owing to close proximity of other E.A.

(Signed) G.F.MANNING Lieut. Pilot. H.F.MONDAY Sergt. Observer

(1 Decisive)

Confirmed by:-
Lieut Rae and Sergt. Perkin, pilot and observer in another machine of the formation.

Combat Report 588

Date: October 4th 1918
Time: 12-50 pm
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2522
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: 2Lt.T.G.Rae
Observer: 2Lt.C.R.Pickering
Locality: W. Of LILLE
Duty: Offensive Patrol
Height: 11,0000 ft
Result: Destroyed One
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplane.

Whilst on Offensive Patrol and flying West towards WERVICQ we were attacked by 6 Fokker Bi-planes. My Observer singled out an E.A. which was attacking another machine of our formation from beneath. I manoeuvred to allow my observer to get a good aim, and after he had nearly a drum into the enemy machine, it dived down out of control, finally crashing and bursting into flames near WAMBRECHIES.

(Signed) T.G.RAE 2/Lt. Pilot. C.R.PICKERING 2/Lt. Obs.

Decisive.

Confirmed by: Sergt.N.Hunt and A.M.Norris

Combat Report 587

Date: October 4th 1918
Time: 12-15 pm
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2511
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: Sergt. J.Moffat
Observer: A.M. Julian S.
Locality: East of ARMENTIERES
Duty: Line Patrol
Height: 11,0000 ft
Result: Destroyed One
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplanes.

Whilst on Line Patrol, our machine was attacked by seven Fokker Biplanes. Two of the E.A. were engaged by the rear gun. The observer put a burst of about 70 rounds into one at close range, and E.A. immediately fell out of control. The pilot of this machine was observed to jump, and the unoccupied machine on crashing into the ground, burst into flames. (E. Of ARMENTIERES).

(Signed) J.MOFFAT Sergt. Pilot. S.JULIAN A.M. 2 Obsvr.

Decisive.

Lt.Bowring, LT.Evans also on Line Patrol.

Leter from Lt.T.L.Jones to Cowan's family

48 Squadron, R.A.F.

France.

Oct. 18^th, 1918.

Dear Mrs Gutman

I hasten to reply to your kind letter of the 14^th to hand yesterday. I have been digging out all the information I could get of the scrap and this I think will explain what happened. Five of our Bristols lead by Jimmy saw about 8 Fokker Biplanes (the best scout the Germans have) and immediately dived on them and started what we call a dog fight (a mix up). The first to go down in flames was a Hun, then one of our chaps caught it. Just then a Hun got onto Jimmy’s tail – this chap in the ordinary course of events would have been shot down by Jimmy’s observer, but it was noticed that he was not firing at all and the conclusion is that his gun jammed. Had I been there this would not have happened, as I have a perfect peach of a gun which has never failed me yet. I now have a double gun – fire both guns the same time.

How this gave the Hun the chance he wanted and he emptied a lot of lead into Jimmy’s bus. It may be of some consolation to you to know that as the Hun was firing into Jimmy, one of our chaps named Thornton-Norris shot this particular Hun down in flames. Unfortunately he was a few seconds late and the Hun had done his work. The observer Jimmy had was a fellow also named Jones who had just recently joined the Squadron. I wish I had been in the fight – Jimmy might have still been safe then. Since that fight we have shot down a number of Hun machines. He also wrote me a letter the day before telling me not to forget to go and see and tell you all about the fun we had had together. I remember I took him a long distance recon. for the first time – we were at a height of 27,000 feet when we were chased by 27 Huns. We stood no chance 27-1. I shouted to him to dive steeply for home – engine full on, while I emptied every round I had into these Huns. We got home with the engine very nearly on fire. It was though Jimmy’s skilful manoeuvring that I managed to get a Hun in flames one night and five seconds after another out of control. Will certainly let you know when I come home and will be very pleased to come and see you. How sad that his brother arrived in England just too late. Mr Brunton who shared Jimmy’s hut is now on leave. His kit, with all the little things you mentioned, is packed up and will be sent to his next of kin. Now he has given as his next of kin his father in Australia and also an Aunt in Kensington, so I am afraid you will have to write to either of them for the little articles you mention. Jimmy left instructions that a pilot names Clements who used to be in the squadron was to attend to all his kit. Unfortunately Clements has left the squadron so I don’t know exactly what will happen. All his private letters have been destroyed and the registered letter to which you refer was returned from here on the 12^th. Many thanks of everything I require. I will not be shy of asking. Believe me Jimmy has been avenged several times over and it will not be my fault if he is not avenged again before I come home. I think i told you i now use a double gun – by pressing a button i fire both together, so there’s going to be some damage.

May I hope to have a word from you again soon – I would be so pleased. Please excuse my writing in lead – I will try and find ink next time.

Yours very sincerely

T.L.Jones

Letter from Major Park to Cowan's Family

Copy of letter from Major Park, R.A.F. 48 Sqadron.

France
Oct. 6th, 1918

Dear Miss James,

It is with deep regret we wired H.Q. that Lt. Cowan was missing, believed killed. I write to you as his nearest relation as I do not know his people’s home address, will you send on this short note of mine.

On the evening of Oct. 3rd a large patrol of our Bristols was attacked by enemy scouts, one of the Bristols was seen to fall in flames from about 15,000 feet. The enemy were driven off and two sent down destroyed but we lost one of our bravest and best leaders with his observer Lt.L.N.Jones.

We cannot hold out even small hopes I fear, but strange escapes have taken place and machines on fire have got down on enemy side with occupants only injured. What did happen to young Cowan’s machine once it caught alight no one can say except that it went down fast. All our other machines were so fully occupied fighting that no one watched the unfortunate Bristol once it commenced to dive earthwards.

We hope, but the chances are small, that news will come though neutral country of those very gallant young officers having managed to land their machine and escape a very sad fate.

Young Cowan was one of our very bravest, most capable, cool-headed pilots and was well on to winning distinction. He was made acting Flight Commander and his Captaincy was expected from H.Q. any day, and in addition he was very popular throughout the squadron and we feel his loss very heavily. He was one of our most reliable Flying officers and we are very anxious to find out all possible information.

We offer you and his parents our very deepest sympathy and will you send on this note of mine to his parents in Australia. Should any word reach me I will immediately write to you again.

James Basil Cowan

Two more photos of James sent to me by his relative Craig.

James Basil Cowan - Crash Photo

I have been sent this amazing photo by Craig Moffatt, a relative of Lt.James Basil Cowan. Under the photo it says

The above shows how Lieut James B. Cowan of the 47th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, with the right wing of his aeroplane almost completely shot away by German gunfire, returned to his aerodrome after a successful bombing raid on a German Ammunition Dump, Inglemunster, N.E. of Coustiai. However he accomplished the ??? was the wonder of his fellow airmen for weeks.

Would be interesting to discover who the observer was that was flying with him that day. I know of three crashes involving Cowan. On one occasion my Grandfather was the observer and on two other occasions he was with Lt.Ludlow Jones.

I was told that the propellor base from this crash was used to for the making of a mantle clock. There is also family story that James was hosted at a special family gathering of his UK relatives prior to his final mission at which they arranged for a model aeroplane to fly around the room. Ominously the plane crash landed into James' bowl of soup.

Thanks to Craig for sharing this photo and information.