Albert Cowan

Albert Cowan.

“Home has changed in many ways,

But one thing changes never.

The memory of those happy days,

When we were all together.”

Albert Cowan was born in Liverpool on 13^th April 1913 to Kate Dower, his recently widowed mother. Albert was the fourth born of five children. It appears that Kate moved the family first to Lancashire and then to Halifax where Kate married John Taylor in Halifax in 1918.

The Cowan Family, circa 1915.

By 1921, the family were living at 27, Chapel Street, Luddenden and by 1939 had again moved, this time to 19, Halifax Lane, Luddenden.

1921 Census Return for 21, Chapel St.

1939 Census Return for 19, Halifax Ln.

Albert belonged to the Luddenden Cricket club and in 1922 he was both elected as the General Secretary of the club whilst also winning second place in a raffle at a whist drive and dance.

Halifax Courier Saturday 22^nd April 1939.

Albert worked for Willie Parker builders of Sowerby Bridge and is described in the censuses as a bricklayer, heavy worker and demolition man.

In 1940, Albert married Gladys Carter of Sowerby Bridge, where they lived in Frinkle Street.

The Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian, Saturday June 1^st, 1940

Todmordon and District News, 7^th June 1940

Albert and Gladys had one son, Ian, who born in late 1942.

Halifax Evening Courier, 12^th October 1942

Before the birth of his son, Albert was posted to serve in North Africa. He served as a private in the 7^th Black Watch (Royal Highlanders, part of the famous 51^st Highland division.

The 7th Black Watch Flag

Albert’s unit was involved in action on the first day of the second battle of Alamein, Montgomery’s famous defeat of Rommel. At the end of this day, the Black Watch were only one of two units to achieve their targets.

7^th Black Watch shown on the southern flank of the start line.

Following on from this battle, the Desert Rats chased Rommel across the desert to Benghazi. During the night of 13^th December, the 1st and 7th Battalions Black Watch encircled the Mersa Brega from north and south. The 1st Battalion suffered heavily from mines in the dark. The 7th Argylls were moved forward into Mersa Brega to fill the gap between the two Black Watch battalions and found it heavily bobby trapped but abandoned. It was here, on 13^th December 1942 that Albert was killed in action.

Albert is commemorated at the Benghazi War Cemetery.