‘Larger than life’ Second World War veteran Jack, dies aged 92
One of Kent’s Second World War veterans has passed away at the age of 92.
John Bowen – known as Jack – was born in St Mary’s Platt, but lived in Wrotham for the past 40 years, where he was a wellknown and much loved member of the community.
Mr Bowen joined the Royal Navy when he was 18, spending a lot of time in the Far East during the war where he was witnessed a lot of action.
When his ship, HMS Sussex, was docked in Newcastle-uponTyne over Christmas 1942, he met the love of his life, 17-yearold Margaret (Peggy) at a party.
Mr Bowen had to go back to war. Over the next three years, the pair kept in touch with regular letters. They married at St Oswarld’s Church, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear.
The couple were inseparable for the next 71 years, until his death after a short illness on July 28. After leaving the Royal Navy, Mr Bowen became a mechanical engineer for Taylor Woodrow and worked abroad, spending a time in Nigeria and Singapore and taking his family with him.
He was also a keen sportsman, playing football and cricket on a regular basis when younger, and golf right up until his arthritis stopped him only a couple of years ago.
As one of the oldest veterans in the area, he was asked to attend the opening of the new Platt Memorial Hall in September 2016.
It was a proud day for him and his family. Mr Bowen wore both his own medals, awarded for service in the Second World War, and also his father’s from the First World War. He was particularly proud that his father had been awarded the Belgium Croix de Guerre, for keeping the lines of communication open in the trenches. Mr Bowen’s grand-daughter Naomi Walker described him as “A larger than life character, never short of an opinion.”
He leaves his wife Peggy and four daughters behind, as well as many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Sadly, his youngest daughter died from cancer at the age of 48 only last November.
The cremation will be at Vinters Crematorium in Maidstone at 10.15am tomorrow (Friday) . The family has asked for donations to Cancer Research and The Veterans’ Society.