Bowen, Eric William – Went down with his ship

Eric Bowen (1921-1940)

ERIC Bowden, of  Bridge Street, Grantham, was signalman on HMS Afridi, one of the three Allied destroyers sunk by German warplanes off the coast of Norway during the withdrawal troops from Namos.

His father, who had served in the 1914-18 campaign had died when Eric was only eight, from the effects of the war.

Signalman Bowen, a native of Grantham, attended St. Anne’s school, from which he obtained a scholarship the  Boys’ Central school.

While at the latter school, he obtained several certificates for long distance swimming, and at the age of 12 he won two medals at the annual swimming gala of the Grantham and District Elementary Schools’ Sports Association.

On leaving school he became a locomotive cleaner for LNER at Grantham. He was promoted to fireman and made one trip before joining the Royal Navy in 1939.

Having completed his training as signalman, he was posted to the Afridi which, shortly after the outbreak of war, was docked.

He was then transferred to HMS Cossack, being given leave, then rejoining the Afridi just before the Cossack’s memorable encounter with the Altmark.