Albert Edward Bowman was born Melton Mowbray towards the end of 1898. Father Henry, born in York, was a horse-trainer and moved around the country following race-meetings. He and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth, had six children, born in several different places including Yorkshire, Devon, Surrey and Rutland. When Albert was born they were living in Deans Street, Oakham but around 1908 they moved to 16 Church Lane, St Martin’s, Stamford. There was a racecourse just outside Stamford and many local landowners kept racing stables which could employ Henry.

Albert, their third child, was unemployed when he left school. On 11th March 1915 he attended a recruitment evening run by Stamford Recruiting Sergeant Blanchard and joined the Durham Light Infantry as Private 6611. His service record has not been found but he is thought to have died in Essex in 1977.