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Hawke Battalion was part of 1st Brigade, Royal Naval Division founded by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Spencer Churchill, in late August 1914. In October 1914 a large number of men of Hawke Battalion were either captured by the Germans or crossed into Holland & Interned for the Duration, as they retreated from Antwerp. A new Hawke Battalion was raised, 'D' Company was formed by volunteers from the 'Public Schools Battalion.' They remained in England when the RND sailed for the Dardanelles, finally rejoining the RND at Cape Helles on the 30 May 1915. The Hawke Battalion saw action at Gallipoli, from 30 May 1915 to Jan.1916. MEF (Mudros & Imbros) Jan.-May 1916. In May 1916 Hawke Battalion joined the BEF as part of 189th Brigade, 63rd (RN) Division seeing action in France and Belgium until May 1919.
Matthew Cowing was only 15 years old when one month after his birthday on 4th October 1914 he went against his father's wishes and Joined The Royal Navel Reserve and company headquarters HMS Calliope, Elswick; on the 16th November 1914; he lied about his age because he didn't want to go down the pit; he wanted to see the world and have adventures that his father had never had. All able bodied single men were deemed to be eligible for war at this time; but Matthew was underage; he should have been sent home. But having slipped through the War Ministry's net he was to suffer the full consequences of his youthful zeal and inexperience.
Matthew was proud to be in The Royal Navel Reserve; he was quick to have photograph taken professionally wearing his full Naval Uniform; it was taken only one year before his death. His official service records number was "Tyneside Z/945"; he'd listed his religion as being C of E; and his personal description records; Height 5ft 6ins, Chest 35ins; Hair dark brown; Eyes Grey; Complexion Medium. Areas of Service were as follows:
- 'A' Company, 16th Section Hawke Battalion 09.01.1915-02.05.1915
- Hawke Battalion 'C' Company Blandford 03.05.1915-30.07.1916
- (Admitted to hospital in Malta on 4/10/1915 suffering from fever)
- Transferred to 4th Battalion Blandford 31.01.1916-01.01.1917
- Drafted to Nelson Battalion
- British Expeditional Force 02.01.1917-28.02.1917
- Transferred to Base Depot 01.03.1917-23.03.1917
- Joined Nelson Battalion 24.03.1917-23.04.1917
The Right Honourable Winston S Churchill Wrote "By their conduct in the forefront of the battle, by their character, and by the feats of arms which they performed, they raised themselves into that glorious company of the seven or eight most famous Divisions of the British Army in the Great War."
On the 28th October 1915 his father Matthew Cowing still living at 9 Cowen Terrace received a letter from the Records Office at 47, Victoria Street, London SW which read:-
"I regret to inform you that I have received a written report stating that your son Able Seaman, RNVR Matthew Cowing who was serving in the Hawke Battalion 1st RN Brigade, RN Division was admitted to hospital in Malta on the 4th October 1915 suffering from fever."
Sometime between 10th March 1915 and 1st December 1916 Matthew had been returned to his Battalion and by 15th December 1916 he was serving under the Victory IX RND 3rd Reserve Battalion.
Whilst Matthew was serving in the Navy; Mary (my Grandmother) married Thomas his brother on 19th August 1916 at Gateshead Registry Office and on 9th September 1916 one month later; her first daughter Annie Mary was born (My aunt). Matthew's mother was still gravely ill with heart disease but the birth of Annie seemed to give the family rest-bit from their worries. However; this was short lived; for very soon after 3rd December 1916 they received a further War Ministry telegram informing them that Matthew had been listed as missing. It was more than Matthew's mother could bare in her weakened state and on 16th April 1917 she passed away peacefully. My Grandmother told me that just before she died; sat bolt upright in bed and called out "Matthew's not coming home". As if she somehow already knew her son had been killed. The last telegram from the Records Office (63rd (Royal Naval) Division 47, Victoria Street, London SW1, dated 4th December 1917 read:-
"Sir, referring to previous notifications. It is my painful duty to inform you of the death of your son. Tyneside Z/945, Able Seaman Matthew Cowing, Nelson Division, 63rd Battalion (RN) is now officially assumed to have been killed on 23rd April 1917.
Signed J. Thompson, Lieutenant Colonel"
Although Matthew had been killed; he has never been forgotten and his story was recalled to me by my Grandmother on many occasions when I was growing up; so that I always wondered what had happened to him. His body was never found so there was no real closure to his life for his family and his death still touches our family to this day. Matthew is remembered on the Epitaph located at the centre of Rowlands Gill Village and on the eve of the Great War wreaths are still placed around it by family and friends. He also remembered in Arras; France on the War Memorial there in Bay 1; as we found out from the War Graves Commission on the Internet were anyone can search for family members who were lost during the great wars.
Coincidentally; it's interesting to read that Matthew died in the same year as Col. William F. "Buffolo Bill" Cody. Cody died on 10th January 1917 aged 71. He brought his Wildwest show to the UK and I believe Queen Victoria saw it. To me it's just as fascinating to realise that my family were alive and well when such famous people who lived amazing lives were making their own history on earth. It really puts your family into its proper time and place.
There is a letter in the family; written by Matthew in pencil; thanking his mother Mary for a birthday cake sent to him; it is another touching reminder of how deeply his death can still touch our family to this day. It's odd to think that if it were not for my Grandmother's way of telling her story of Matthew her brother-in-law that captured my imagination; he might not have been remembered in quite the same way.
I grew up with his story and always wondered what had happened to him; they never found his body and we are not sure where he died; but we believe it could have been in France around Arras.
Catherine Greenup
List of those who served with Hawke Battalion during The Great War.
- Terence Clayton Brightwell (d. 29 Sep 1918)
- Matthew Cowing. (d. 23 Apr 1917)Read his Story
- Pte. John Davies. 19th Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Fusiliers attached Hawke Bn.(d. 20 May 1918) Read his Story
- Pte. Edward Draper. 19th Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Fusiliers attached Hawke Bn., R.N.D(d. 25Aug 1918) Read his Story
- A.B. Harry Hammer (d. 18 May 1919)
- Pte. Arthur Hinksman. 19th Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Fusiliers attached Hawke Bn.(d. 5 Sep 1918) Read his Story
- L/Cpl. John Roberts Jones. 19th Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Fusiliers attached Hawke Bn. (d. 28 Sep 1918) Read his Story
- Walter Kingswell (d. 5 Nov 1917 )
- Pte. Edgar Moore. 19th Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Fusiliers attached Hawke Bn.(d. 25 Aug 1918) Read his Story
- Pte. George Yarwood. 19th Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers Fusiliers attached Hawke Bn.(d. 22 Aug 1918) Read his Story
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