Vet of the Month : October, 2011
Reg.# S/0107, Edwin Jefferey Bowen
by his son, Reg.#22845, Brian E. Bowen
Reg.# S/0107, Edwin Jefferey Bowen
by his son, Reg.#22845, Brian E. Bowen
My father was Edwin Jefferey Bowen. He emigrated to Canada in 1957 bringing his wife - Nellie
Rosa (nee: Morris) and (us) their 3 sons; Brian E. (14), David E. (10) and Douglas G. (7 years).
We settled in Winnipeg Manitoba. Shortly after arriving in Winnipeg, Dad secured employment
with the R.C.M. Police as a Special Constable. He was posted as a Bank Guard in the Bank of
Canada at Portage and Main -- a post which he occupied until his retirement in 1973.
In earlier years, Dad was single while a member of the British Merchant Navy. Thus, he
had spent considerable time visiting and working in Canada. He lived in Vancouver. He worked
in the forest skidding logs for the pulp mill in Port Alberni, he was a cowboy on the Gang Ranch
in the Merritt area and he worked on the docks in New Westminster.
I recall him telling me stories. One tale was of him walking across the Lions Gate Bridge between
Vancouver and today's North Vancouver. In those days, the area was an Aboriginal Reserve and
it eventually became the 'British Properties.' He also remembered partying in the Vancouver Hotel
shortly after it opened to serve the public. At that time, he said that he lived in a boarding house on
Cambie Street on the site of the present day BC Football Stadium.
He returned to England because of WWII was approaching. He planned on seeking a Commission in
the British Royal Navy. However, prior to the opening hostilities of WWII, he was involved in a
near fatal motorcycle accident that left him crippled with both legs badly deformed. This incident
played a large role in him not serving in WWII. At the same time, he was seeking a better
opportunity for his 3 sons when he decided to leave his native land.
Dad was openly proud of his service in the Force and he was forever grateful for the chance to
serve his new found country, Canada. He became a Canadian citizen, and I recall what he said just
prior to leaving the British Isles. He asked me '...what do you think son ... if we go, we
aren't coming back you know?"
He often compared the two countries, but he never regretted his decision to come to Canada. He left the UK with $500.00 in his
pocket and with the help of some cousins whom they never met, he and his wife established
a foothold in this new land. He was 41 years old when he decided to make this huge move,
having sold everything in England just to pay for the boat fare and train travel.
We sailed from Liverpool on the R.M.S. Sythia of the 18-APR-57 arriving in New York city 10
days later. The voyage was delayed by 4 days because of icebergs in the north Atlantic.
We boarded a train in New York and entered Canada, changing trains in Toronto and traveling
to Winnipeg. We arrived at the CPR Station on North Main Street on the 02-MAY-57 where we were
met by my mother's 2nd cousins - Gordon and June Walker. They drove us to their home on Fawcett
Avenue in their 1951 Chevrolet.
They accommodated us for 2 weeks, long enough to find an apartment and start school etc. Each of
us boys graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute. We 3 boys each married, and
collectively we had 8 children. Brian married Norma MacPherson, (formerly of PEI) and they
had 3 children - Bradley, Brent, Jana. David married Angie and had 3 children -- Shannon and
a twin - the later died at birth and Shawn. Douglas married Beverley Schick and gave birth to
Tracey and Jefferey. As the years rolled by, Dad's grand children have 8 great grand children.
His desire was to return to BC to retire, however, he settled for Edmonton, AB where he spent
his last days living with his wife and his son - David.
It's all due to our father, Edwin Jefferey Bowen, that the Bowen family is firmly
established in Canada today!
Edwin Jefferey Bowen, RCMP is buried in Greenway Cemetery, Edmonton, AB
a son,
Brian E. Bowen
October 23, 2011
a son,
Brian E. Bowen
October 23, 2011
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