Century-old mystery solved as N.B. woman ID'd in crypt in England

[Michael OLeary]

Century-old mystery solved as N.B. woman ID'd in crypt in England

Article link

Volunteers with a historic cemetery in London, England, have unearthed a nearly century-old mystery connecting Kensal Green Cemetery to a small family plot in rural New Brunswick.

For more than 90 years, a packing crate stored in a catacomb at the Kensal Green Cemetery was speculated to contain a murder victim or the remains of an aristocrat shipped from India.

It turns out the casket inside the crate holds the remains of an 18-year-old woman from Sussex, N.B.

The exaggerated theories surrounding the disintegrating packing crate ended once volunteers with the Kensal Green Cemetery took a look at the cemetery register. They found records of Gladys Winifred Fowler, a New Brunswick woman who died in a London hotel in 1917.

It appears the family was there while Fowler's father served in the military. Both her parents died shortly after.

Signe Hoffos, a volunteer with the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, is among those who helped solve the international mystery. Unless someone really wanted to return Fowler to New Brunswick, Hoffos said it might be best for the New Brunswicker to stay on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

"Unless someone wishes to have her reinterred in New Brunswick, she's perfectly welcome to rest at Kensal Green," Hoffos said.

"It would be a fair bit of palaver to get a rather hefty coffin out of the crypt in Kensal Green all the way over to the family resting place in New Brunswick."

Fowler's remains rest inside a wood coffin, sealed with lead.
Fowler should return to N.B.

Descendents of Gladys Fowler have yet to come forward perhaps because up until recently, no one even knew she was missing.

Her grave and family tombstone are at the Hammondvale Community Cemetery, just outside Sussex.

Albert Scott helps maintain the rural cemetery and he said it's only right to have Fowler's remains sent to the cemetery in southern New Brunswick.

"She should be brought back. I mean you just can't leave a — wouldn't be right to leave a body in a catacomb in London," Scott said.

"It would only be right for us to do that."

Scott said because Fowler's father served in the military at the time of her death, it may be Ottawa's responsibility to send her body home.

 

[Michael OLeary]

The 1911 Canadian census shows the Fowler family living in Sussex, New Brunswick. The daughter's initial is incorrectly transcribed as "E" rather than "G"; the scanned page image does look like a "G".

Fowler Geo W Head Feb 1862 49
Fowler Ethyl G Wife Feb 1876 35
Fowler E Winifred Daughter Jun 1898 12
Fowler Eric McLeod Son Dec 1900 10
Fowler Cedric ?coles Son Mar 1905 6

The Canadian Virtual War memorial lists 19 soldiers named Fowler who died after 1 Jan 1917. Of these only one is named George, but he was only 22 years old, so he's not the father.

From the Soldiers of the First World War database:

Name: FOWLER, GEORGE WILLIAM
Rank: LCL
Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3246 - 52
Date of Birth: 24/02/1861

Attestation paper - http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc004/333062a.gif

Lieut-Col Fowler was from Sussex, New Brunswick. Born in 1861, he's certainly old enough to have a daughter in her late teens in 1917.

Note the census gives a year of birth for George as 1862, but his attestation paper says 1861.

Now, is this him? Right place of birth, about the right age (b. 1859). Birthdate given is the same day, different year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_William_Fowler

George William Fowler (February 24, 1859 – September 2, 1924) was a lawyer and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented King's County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1895 to 1899 and King's then King's and Albert in the Canadian House of Commons from 1900 to 1908 and 1911 to 1917 as a Conservative member. Fowler went on to represent Kings and Albert division in the Senate of Canada from 1917 to 1924.

He was born in Hammond Vale, New Brunswick and was educated in Saint John, at Dalhousie University and at Boston University. Fowler was admitted to the New Brunswick bar in 1884. He served on the council for King's County from 1886 to 1890 and served as warden in 1889. Fowler was Grand Master for the Orange Lodge in New Brunswick from 1890 to 1893.

After the Conservatives were accused in the House of improprieties by a Liberal member, Fowler responded:

    I shall allow no man to make an attack on me or my character without retorting. I shall discuss the character of honourable Members opposite, whether they be ministers or private members, and their connection with women, wine and graft.[1]

He was defeated in a bid for reelection to the federal seat in 1908. Fowler was a lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. He died in office in 1924.

 

[Bzzliteyr]

I just pumped off an email to a Fowler friend of mine posted to Gagetown. MTF.

 

[Michael OLeary]

I posted a version of my notes above to the CBC page, a follow-on comment added:

Kensal Green Cemetery says Gladys died of a heart condition & infection, and was also suffering from pneumonia & measels.

She was in the UK because her dad was in the military. George Fowler became a Canadian Senator shortly after his daughter's death, then died himself in 1924.

The family stone in NB lists only one other brother who died at age 30.

Possibly this other, youngest brother recorded on the 1911 census might have family that will realize this is their relative. Or pehaps he also died young and therefore there was no one to pay to bring Gladys home after the War ended.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Another online item:

http://www.new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/messages/archive3-2007.html

27/12/07 Greetings from England, I am the Chairman of The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery in London and we are trying to contact the family of Gladys Winifred Fowler of Sussex NB who died in London in 1917. Her father was George William Fowler Lt.Colonel of the 13th Battn Canadian Infantry, Barrister, KC, MP. When Gladys died her body was placed in the catacomb at Kensal Green as a temporary deposit and is still there to this day. We would like to discover the story behind this sad event and would be pleased to be in touch with the family. All best wishes, Barry Smith. www.kensalgreen.co.uk  Email: kensalg@aol.com

 

[Bzzliteyr]

Haha, that one actually looks like the same kind of opening line you see in the Nigerian scams!!

I'll pass it along on Monday!

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Should have know some one else would have posted it.

Just to post something the 13th CEF Btn is perpetuated by the The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.
Perhaps there is something in their archives?

 

[Michael OLeary]

I didn't find him in a text search of the Battalion's history:

The 13th Battalion Royal Highlanders of Canada, 1914-1919

I know he wasn't a Commanding Officer of the 13th Bn CEF. It is possible he never went into France with them.

 

[Dennis Ruhl]

I didn't find him in a text search of the Battalion's history:

The 13th Battalion Royal Highlanders of Canada, 1914-1919

I know he wasn't a Commanding Officer of the 13th Bn CEF. It is possible he never went into France with them.

It is very likely he was among the hundreds, if not thousands, of officers from disbanded battalions kicking around England waiting to go to France.  The commanders in the field preferred promotion of soldiers with battle experience to the often untrained militia soldiers who received their commission by political connections.  To successfully get to France most soldiers had to revert to private or lieutenant and a 57 year old lieutenant would be too old.

 

[Michael OLeary]

George William Fowler had 20 years service in the 8th Hussars at the time he attested for overseas service.  Hardly an inexperienced wartime political commissioning.

We don't know from the information in the news report of this thread what position he held during the war.  It is likely his professional background as a barrister as well as his age are the principal reasons he stayed in England (assuming that is correct and he wasn't Brigade or Divisional staff in France for some of his time overseas).

His attestation paper:

 

[Michael OLeary]

Apparently he had command of a Reserve Battalion in England.

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 APRIL, 1917.

Can. Inf, Bns.
The undermentioned temp. Lt.-Cols. to comd. Bns.: - 2 Jan. 1917.
G. W. Fowler.


SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 NOVEMBER, 1917.

New Brunswick Regt.
Temp. Lt.-Col. G. W. Fowler ceases to comd. a Bn. 1 Nov. 1917.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Interestingly, the fact that George listed his religion as "Pagan" has been picked up for special attention:

Canadian: Her body lies over the ocean...

The cemetery group has a copy of Gladys Fowler's death certificate, which indicates her father, George William Fowler, was present at her death, which occurred April 17, 1917 at Berners Hotel in London. His rank is listed as Lt. Col., 13th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He signed on as a lieutenant-colonel in the 104th Over-Seas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which was absorbed about a year later into the 13th Canadian Reserve Battalion. Curiously, he listed his religion as "pagan," an unusually bold thing to state on a military application at that time and place. What transpired between the date he enlisted for military service, Feb. 21, 1916, and his daughter's death 14 months later, is a mystery.

The item includes a link to a lengthy article at the Kings County Record.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Family burials at the Hammondvale Community Cemetery
Hammondvale, Hammon Parish, Kings Co., NB

FOWLER - George William Fowler 1858 - 1924
Gladys Winifred Fowler 1898 - 1917
Eric MacLeod Fowler 1900 - 1930
Ethel Georgina Fowler 1874 - 1936 w/o George W. Fowler

FOWLER - Charlotte w/o J. M. Fowler  d. Aug 1864 age 26 yrs

FOWLER - Lieut. Weeden Fowler, b. at Courtlandt Manor, NY 8 Dec 1760
  d. at Hammond 23 May 1791
  wife, Elizabeth Sherwood  29 May 1767 - 14 Oct 1847
  LOYALIST
(side) Ammon Fowler 23 Jan 1789 - 10 Sep 1869
    wife, Mary Taylor 22 Aug 1792 - 7 Jan 1875

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Reading the last link, the battalion is identified as the 13th reserve bn which accords to the notes I have

by my notes

commanding dates are
104th Bn (New Brunswick) are 28 jan 1916 - 22 jan 1917
and
13th reserve Bn 2 jan 1917 - 9 july 1917

The 104th was on paper part of the 15th Bde, 5th division from Feb 1917 to 15 feb 1918
later it became part of the 13th Reserve  but long after Fowler had left.
Almost looks like Fowler was quietly shuffled out of command when the unit was in line to go to France. The officer who replaced him was commanding the 105th Bn which merged with the 104th

 

[Old Sweat]

According to the official history of the CEF, the 13th Reserve Battalion provided reinforcements to the 26th and 44th Battalions. All three units were part of the New Brunswick Regiment.

 

[Michael OLeary]

After more than 90 years. remains of Canadian girl may return from England

Article link.

By Kevin Bissett, The Canadian Press
ADVERTISEMENT

FREDERICTON - The remains of a young New Brunswick woman whose coffin has remained unclaimed at a London cemetery for nearly a century may soon make the final journey home to Canada to be buried with the rest of her family.

Gladys Winifred Fowler was 18 when she died on April 17, 1917.

She was the daughter of then New Brunswick MP George William Fowler, at the time a lieutenant-colonel serving with the 13th Battalion Canadian Infantry during the final months of the First World War.

Barry Smith of The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery traced Fowler's story.

He said the coffin was properly sealed and crated up for transport back to Canada at the end of the war, but for some reason that never happened.

In Hammondvale, near Sussex in southern New Brunswick, a headstone at the community cemetery lists the names of every member of the Fowler family, including Gladys.

Smith said Fowler's father died in 1924 and her mother died in 1936, and the only sibling - a brother named Eric - died at the age of 30.

The search for a relative has finally had some success - a niece who lives in the United States.

"She is very enthusiastic about having Gladys repatriated to the family plot, and we've got some costs together for what would be involved here," Smith said in an interview from London.

He said discussions are preliminary because the niece is working and vacationing in Greece.

He estimates the cost of getting the remains ready for transport at close to 5,000 British pounds, or C$9,500.

"Within the catacomb the lead coffin would be opened and Gladys's remains would be transferred into a new zinc shell and that would be placed in a coffin and readied for transportation," he said.

Smith said the family would have to apply for permits, and the actual transport of the body could be at least three months away. Still, he said knowing Fowler's remains could finally go home to Canada has been emotional.

More at link.

 

[mariomike]

"Tonks said he was particularly touched because the girl was the daughter of someone who served his country in the Armed Forces and in the public service as an MP and a senator."

The story says she passed away in 1917.
The irony is, to me, that "someone who served his country in the Armed Forces" would not be eligible for repatriation. Even if the family was willing to pay the cost themselves.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

And it looks like the last hurdle has been jumped.


http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/11/02/11606901.html

Girl's remains from 1917 to return to Canada
By THE CANADIAN PRESS

Last Updated: 2nd November 2009, 1:15pm
FREDERICTON — The remains of a young Canadian woman whose coffin was left unclaimed in England for almost a century will finally be laid to rest this month at the family plot in New Brunswick.

The U.K. government has granted permission for transport of the body of Gladys Winnifred Fowler, who was 18 when she died in London in 1917.
She was the daughter of then New Brunswick MP George William Fowler, at the time a lieutenant-colonel serving with the 13th Battalion Canadian Infantry during the final months of the First World War.

Barry Smith of the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery says it’s a great feeling to know Fowler is going home, but he is still mystified why her remains were left in a packing case for 92 years.
Fowler’s niece, Jane Fowler Morse of Geneseo, N.Y., says there’s a great sense of relief that her aunt will finally be returning to Hammondvale, N.B.

A graveside service is planned for Nov. 15.

 

[mariomike]

The guy who does the show "Cities of the Underworld" toured her crypt ( or one eerily similar ) recently. It even had a Victorian era elevator. He gave the place "a ten out of ten on the creepo meter".

 

[old medic]

N.B. teen who died overseas 92 years ago laid to rest
CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Sun. Nov. 15 2009 8:55 PM ET
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091115/Fowler_burial_091115/20091115?hub=TopStoriesV2

A teenaged Canadian girl whose remains were forgotten for decades in a catacomb in London, England, has finally been interred alongside her family in Hammondvale, N.B.

Gladys Fowler grew up in the New Brunswick town, where family believed she had been buried in the family plot.

Instead, her coffin was stored in a packing crate in a London catacomb. It was to be transported to Canada but never made the journey until now.

On Sunday, reservists from the 8th Canadian Hussars carried her coffin to the family's grave site. A group of local residents braved the rain to attend the burial.

Fowler died in England in 1917 at the age of 18, due to illness and heart disease, her death certificate says.

Her father, a New Brunswick MP, was serving overseas in the Canadian military during the First World War at the time of her death.

It's not clear why her remains weren't shipped to her home country, said Jane Fowler Morse, who is Fowler's niece.

"Our grandfather did suffer financial losses in a big fire in Sussex in the early 1920s and he was ill when he came back from the war and he died in 1927, so whether those interfered, or something else, it's hard to say," Morse said.

Eventually, officials at the catacomb in London where Fowler's remains were stored opened the packing crate and found her name written on the coffin.

Barry Smith, who is part of a group that offers tours of the historic London cemetery, began searching for Fowler's family members. He was eventually able to contact relatives of hers in New York state.

They were unaware her remains had been left overseas because Fowler's name had been engraved on the headstone of the family's plot in Hammondvale.

"A wound was closed for our family today, and I'm certainly grateful for that," said Morse's brother John Fowler, who lives in Pennsylvania, at the funeral.

Donations made the repatriation possible, including by Air Canada and a nearby funeral home.

"I'm humbled by the Canadian people and the outpouring of support," John Fowler said. "It makes us proud to have Canadian roots."

Smith, who searched for the teen's relatives for more than two years, made the voyage across the Atlantic to attend the ceremony.

"We gave her back her nationality and her identity, and now we're pleased to give her back to her family," he said.

Well done to the 8th Canadian Hussars.