© Radley Archives
Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
John Leslie Mowbray was born on 19th July 1875 at Newton House, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland to Charles Cochrane Mowbray and Louisa Mowbray nee Brotherton.
At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived at Newton House. Charles was an iron master employing 1810 men and Louisa was at home. The house further comprised of their children: Archibald, Basil, Evelyn, John and Mabel. The family was looked after by a governess, cook, laundry maid, table maid, kitchen maid, two housemaids and two nurses.
John’s mother Louisa Mowbray died in 1887.
John was educated at Mr Wellesley Wesley´s Sandroyd School in Cobham, Surrey and at Radley College where he rowed in the Eight in 1894.
At the time of the 1891 Census, John was a boarder at Radley College, Kennington Road, Radley. He left Radley College in 1894.
He was afterwards trained as a civil engineer, and worked from 1894 to 1900.
John received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 28th July 1900 and joined a battery in India. He was promoted Lieutenant on 28th July 1903.
John’s father Charles, died on 28th June 1903 at Dalclathie Lodge, Comrie, Scotland and was buried on 3rd July 1903 at St Mary Magdalene’s Churchyard in South Holmwood. According to the 1916 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser John and his family lived at one time at Holmwood Cottage, Holmwood.
Lieutenant Mowbray was afterwards transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery with which he remained until entering the Staff College Quetta in British India for which he was specially nominated in 1907. On passing out he was appointed to the General Staff at Simla, India. He served as a General Staff Officer, Third Grade, from 4th April 1909 to 3rd April 1913.
Lieutenant Mowbray was promoted Captain on 21st August 1911.
He went to France as Staff Captain in August 1914 and became Brigade-Major on a divisional staff in December 1914. This appointment he resigned in the spring of 1916 in order to take command of a field battery.
Major Mowbray was twice mentioned in Dispatches by Field Marshal Sir John French for galant and distinguished service in the field and was awarded the Distinquished Service Order.
MAJ. JOHN LESLIE MOWBRAY
D.S.O., R.F.A
Major John Leslie Mowbray, D.S.O., R.F.A. (killed), aged 41, was the third son of the late Mr. Charles Cochrane Mowbray of Wellhall, Hamilton, and was educated at Mr Wellesley Wesley’s, Sandroyd, and at Radley, where he rowed in the Eight in 1894. He was afterwards trained as a civil engineer. He received a commission in the R.F.A. in July 1900, and joined a battery in India. He was afterwards transferred to the R.H.A., with which he remained until entering the Staff College, Quetta, for which he was specially nominated in 1907. On passing out he was appointed to the General Staff at Simla, where he remained until 1913. He went to France as Staff Captain in August 1914, and became Brigade-Major on a divisional staff three months later. This appointment he resigned in the spring of this year in order to take command of a field battery. He was promoted Captain in August 1911, and Major in December 1914. For his services in France he was twice mentioned in dispatches and received the D.S.O.
John Leslie Mowbray Death Notice © The Scotsman findmypast.co.uk
At the time of his death Major John Leslie Mowbray D.S.O. was part of the 41st Brigate, the Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action on the 24th of July 1916 near Carnoy on the Somme, France.
Peronne Road Cemetery Roll of Honour © CWGC.org
Major Mowbray is burried at the Peronne Road Cemetery, Marycourt, France. His grave reference number is: IV.F.20.
Mowbray Family History
John’s father Charles Cochrane Mowbray was born about 1844 at Largo, Fife, Scotland to Benjamin Holme Mowbray, born about 1809 at Cheetham Hill, Lancashire, and Caroline E. Mowbray, born about 1815 in Sherburn, Durham. At the time of the 1861 Census, the family lived at Surbiton House, Surbiton Road, Kingston, Surrey.
John’s mother Louisa Brotherton was born on 8th March 1847 in London, Middlesex to John William Brotherton, esq. of The Firs, Esher, Surrey and Georgiana Brotherton nee Palmes. Louisa’s father John William Brotherton was born on 24th July 1821 in Ireland. Louisa’s mother Georgiana Palmes was born about 1824 in Scotland to George Palmes of Naburn Hall, Yorkshire. Her grandfather was General Sir Thomas Brotherton, G.C.B.
Charles and Louisa married on 5th September 1868 at St Andrew’s Church, Cobham, Surrey. At the time of their marriage Louisa lived at Cobham.
John Leslie Mowbray had six known siblings: Archibald John Holme born about 1870 and Basil C. born about 1872, both in England; Evelyn L. born about 1874 Mabel Georgina Mowbray born about 1879; and Margine C. born about 1882 all Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland and Louisa Rose D. born about 1887 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
| Born | Cambuslang, Lanarkshire | |
| Son of | Charles Cochrane and Louise (nee Brotherton) Gould | |
| Regiment | 41st Brigade. Royal Field Artillery | |
| Date of Death | 24th July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Carnoy, Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 41 | |
| Cemetery | Peronne Road Cemetery, Marycourt, France |
