Dear Editor,
Re: “Searching for private Bowcock,” News, Nov. 6; “You can never forget your first love,” News, Nov. 11.
This letter is in response to Steveston-London secondary school student’s tribute to Robert S. Bowcock.
Thank you for writing this tribute. Family in the Lower Mainland came across the article by chance and forwarded it on to me.
Robert Bowcock was my uncle I never knew. My name is Stan Bowcock and my father James Stanley Bowcock (1915) was Robert’s older brother.
Robert and James also had older twin sisters – Eva and Amy (1913).
My father, James, returned to Trail upon his graduation from Richmond High School and gained life-long employment with CMS (Cominco /Teck).
My father served during the war in Gander, Newfoundland, never going overseas.
My father often spoke of Robert and my older sister Roberta was named in his memory.
My family and I have been to the street in Richmond named in his honor.
In recent years, we have accessed the Canadian Military website and were aware of Robert’s military service.
However, we did not know that he was engaged to be married, which leads me to the most recent article about Irene Wagner Stiles in the Richmond News which I have also had the pleasure of reading.
So, once again, thank you to the students of Steveston-London Secondary School who chose my uncle to honor this Remembrance Day, both here and abroad.
It is experiences like this that can never be duplicated by reading a book or using the Internet. The students have been truly blessed that they were able to make the journey.
Stan Bowcock
Rossland, BC
