Remembering World War II

Name: Frederick Lloyd Bowser Rank: Carpenter (warrant officer) Service Number: Merchant Seaman Service: CS John W. MacKay (London), Merchant Navy Date of Birth: May 23, 1896 Place of Birth: Ostrea Lake, Halifax County, Nova Scotia Trade: Merchant Mariner, Seaman Marital Status: Married Next of Kin: Gladys Bowser (Wife) Date of Death: September 6, 1943 Age at Death: 47 Cemetery: No grave or memorial Grave: Buried At Sea near the Addu Atoll, Maldives Not currently commemorated in the Second World War Books of Remembrance Which is Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa Frederick Lloyd Bowser was the son of Frederick Michael Bowser (1866-1953) and Jane Laura Bowser (1873- 1927), and husband of Gladys Muriel (Slaunwhite) Bowser (1897-2000). Fred was born May 23rd and baptized October 15, 1896, at St. George’s Church in Ostrea Lake, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. Frederick’s son, Able Seaman Donald St. Clair Bowser (Service No. A/5207), also served at sea, with the Royal Canadian Navy and died aboard HMCS Charlottetown, age 24, on September 11, 1942. During the 1920’s, Frederick served on the SS Canadian Seigneur, a freighter built in 1919 by Canadian Government Merchant Marine Ltd. Later in his career, he joined CS John W. Mackay. In the early part of WWII, the Cable Ship (CS) John W. Mackay was stationed at Halifax, Nova Scotia for repair work in the Atlantic. In 1942, the Admiralty requisitioned the ship for cable-laying in the Persian Gulf, Eastern Mediterranean and later the Pacific Ocean. Due to a shortage of cable the first task undertaken was the recovery of 450 nm of cable off Cape Verde Islands West of Africa, belonging to the Italcable company. This took three weeks working both day and night all the time under the threat from 'U' boats. After the war it was back to normal duties, cable maintenance, in the North Atlantic. During September of 1943, the ship was located in the Indian Ocean. Frederick Bowser served as a carpenter aboard the CS John W. Mackay. The carpenter was a warrant officer who was responsible for the maintenance and repair of the wooden components of the ship. Frederick Lloyd Bowser died of a non-battle related medical issue on September 6, 1943, while serving aboard the John W. Mackay. The cause of death is recorded as a rupture of aneurism accelerated by coronary thrombosis (blood clot). Frederick Bowser was buried at sea near the Addu Atoll in the Maldives, the southernmost atoll of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

Frederick Lloyd Bowser

CS John W. Mackay.

Sources: CS John W. MacKay