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Location
In 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery, Gallipoli Description Standard grave marker. Grave location : I C 44. |
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Headstone
Photograph published in the "Watford Illustrated". The IW Rifles spent several months in Watford, training, before embarkation to the Middle East. |
Inscription
-------------------1371 RIFLEMAN A.C. COWARD 8TH BN. HAMPSHIRE REGT. 29 NOVEMBER 1915 Further Information Albert Charles William Coward Son of : Albert Frederick Coward and Ada Coward (née Shawyer), of Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. Born : 1894, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. Enlisted : Newport Residence : Carisbrooke Census information : 1901 : Albert and Ada Coward, with their children including Albert aged 7, are at 3 Kennington Place, High Street, Carisbrooke. Albert Coward is a Shoemaker. 1911 : Albert and Ada Coward, with their children including Albert aged 17, are at High Street, Carisbrooke. Albert Coward snr. is a Bootmaker, Albert Coward jnr. is a Carriage and Shoeing Smith. Cause of death : Killed in Action CWGC record ... His name is recorded on the following IW Memorials : IW Rifles Memorial Carisbrooke Castle IW Rifles Memorial, Drill Hall, Newport Carisbrooke War Memorial St John's Church, Newport, Men's Bible Class War Memorial (as B Coward) IW Football Association Roll of Honour (as B Coward) Documents and newspaper cuttings :
Isle of Wight County Press
1st January 1916 CARISBROOKE RIFLEMAN KILLED IN ACTION The sad news was received this week by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Coward of Carisbrooke that their eldest son Rfn. Albert C. W. Coward, B Co., aged 21, had been killed in action at Gallipoli on November 29th. The deceased was a sturdily built young man and had gone through the whole of the earlier fighting at Suvla Bay without a scratch or any sickness and his parents were therefore buoyed up with the thought that he was safe for a while, as the Regiment had returned to Egypt, but unfortunately he must have met his gallant fate a few days before the withdrawal. The deepest sympathy is felt with his parents and family. Rfn. Coward joined the Rifles previous to the war and was a fine young soldier. He was a promising and popular member of the St. John's Athletic Club, having already shown good qualities as a cross country runner and boxer. He is the first of the numerous members of the St. John's Men's Bible Class on active service to lose his life and his death is much deplored.
Isle of Wight County Press
8th January 1916 LAST GALLIPOLI CASUALTIES AMONG ISLAND RIFLES C.S.M. A.C. Early [1], Newport, writing to Mr. James Eldridge, leader of St. John's (Newport) Men's Bible Class, on December 18th, said "We are at last out of the fire zone, and are at present at sea. The last week we were on the Peninsula we had a snow storm, so that in four months we had there the two extremes of weather ... I am sorry to tell you that we lost the first member of our Bible Class during the last few days at Gallipoli. A. Coward (Carisbrooke) was killed whilst on his way through the saps to draw rations for the battalion. This seemed very tough luck, as, if the battalion had left when it was intended they should leave, it would not have happened. Owing to the snowstorm the boats were unable to get us off and the battalion had to go back into a reserve gully for a few days. The following day, poor Coward and another[2] were killed and a couple of others wounded. However we have a lot to be thankful for and I hope we shall all be able to join the other members of the Class and thank the One responsible." [1] Arthur Charles Early, born 1890, of Pyle St, Newport. He survived the war, and died in 1971 aged 80. [2]This was Rifleman George Dunn Albert Coward's cousin, Ernest Albert Edwin Coward, son of Charles Coward and Ada Coward (née Lee), served with the 1st Bn., Dorsetshire Regiment. He was captured by the Germans, but subsequently escaped as described below :
Isle of Wight County Press
14th November 1914 A CARISBROOKE MAN'S ADVENTURES, CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS, BUT ESCAPES Ernest Coward of the 1st Dorset Regiment, writing to his mother at Carisbrooke, says "We have been hard at it in the fighting line for this last three or four days and it only by sheer luck that I came through it quite safely. I had a shrapnel bullet go right through the water bottle I was carrying. It went through the bottom and bent out the back and then burst off the top, but I shall be able to tell you about it, if I am spared, by and bye. I must tell you that I was captured the other day, but got away again. I would not be a prisoner on any account if I could help it. I dare not tell you more till later, as we have to be very careful what we put into our letters." Since the above arrived, a friend has received a letter from her son in Germany, in which he states: "I, with Ernest Coward and others, was taken prisoner by the Germans, but whilst on the march, Ernest disappeared and we have not seen him since." Ernest Coward died in 1972, aged 78. Acknowledgments : Derek Coward, nephew of Albert Charles William Coward, for photograph and other information. Page last updated : 10th October 2014 (added link to St John's Church, Newport, Men's Bible Class War Memorial) |
Memorials & Monuments
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