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Eric was born in Brighton, Sussex and at some time between 1911 and 1917 he moved to London where he married Catherine Spry.  Tragically Eric was killed in a German air raid on London on 13 June 1917 when he was just 26 years old and had been married for only two years.  His death certificate makes very sad, but fascinating reading. He was "found dead on 13th June 1917 at Barretts Foundry, Beech Court" in London City. There was an inquest on 15th and 18th June and the cause of death was recorded as "Shock, haemorrhage, severe injuries to the body by explosions of bombs dropped by enemy airmen".

There was clearly much outrage at this air raid as questions were asked in Parliament.  Click on the links below to see the full story.

Eric Thomas Cowley

Born in Brighton, Charles divorced his first wife after she had an affair on her return from South Africa.  He worked as a commercial traveller for Mazawattee Tea.  He served in the Natal Field Artillery during the 1906 Natal rebellion and served in the Royal Artillery during WW1.

Charles Leonard Cowley

Francis Cowley

Francis was born in Brighton, Sussex in 1837 and christened in St Nicholas’ Church.  Researching Francis’s marriages was complicated as his first two wives both had the forenames ‘Mary Ann(e)’.  Following the death of his first wife, Mary Anne Tugwell, Francis married his late wife’s sister in law (nee mary Ann Hart), the widow of John Henry Tugwell.  After the death of his second wife Francis married another widow, Charlotte Louisa Naylor (nee Woolley).

From the three marriages Francis had seven children and became stepfather to a further three from his third wife’s first marriage.

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Photographs

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Francis Tugwell Cowley was a ‘Chef and confectioner’ according to the 1911 census. In 1927 he made a sugar model of the White Rock Pavilion in Hastings, Sussex, to celebrate its opening 1927.  The Pavilion is now the White Rock Theatre.

Francis Tugwell Cowley

Francis T. Cowley

Sugar model of the White Rock Pavilion in Hastings

White Rock Theatre 2011

Thanks to Alison Besley & White Rock Theatre for the photographs

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