Henry J. Bowes

Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy

Submarine Chaser 209 (SC-209)

Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: August 27, 1918
Award: World War I Victory Medal

Lieutenant Junior Grade Henry J. Bowes, of Wellwood Avenue and Volan Street, Merchantville, lost his life when Submarine Chaser 209 was sunk off Fire Island on August 27th, 1918. He was in command of one of eleven chasers as part of the “Patterson Group,” an antisubmarine unit whose flagship was the USS Patterson DD-36. When the armed merchantman Felix Taussig mistook the chasers for German submarines and opened fire, the 209 was sunk, killing 18 and leaving 4 more wounded. The fatal mistake was made 150 miles off Fire Island, after three destroyers had left the twelve chasers. Two other chasers were sunk in the battle. Lieutenant Bowes had enlisted in the Naval Reserve before the country entered the war in April, 1917, in Pennsylvania, where he had lived for several years. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Evaline Humphreys Bowes, and his son, Henry E. Bowes, of Merchantville. They remained in Merchantville, later moving to a home at 131 Browning Road.

Young Henry Bowes graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1938.

SC 209 served in the USS Patterson Group, on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. On 27 August 1918, this chaser was mistaken for a submarine, shelled and sunk by the trawler Felix Taussig.

An audio podcast episode on the sinking of SC 209 is available at In the Great War.

Submarine Chaser SC 209 crew on 27 August 1918:

* Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Junior Grade Henry J. Bowes
* Executive officer: Ensign George Fitz Randolph

* Crowe, Collins Alwyn — MM2c
* Denney, Harry Sawyer — GM1c
** Evans, Clarence Singles — MM2c
+ Gleason, Elmer E. — MM1c
* Groves, Gordon James — S2c
* Gunderman, George Charles Jr. — MM2c
* Hasinger, Richard Coyle — QM3c
* Haskett, Leonard Alonzo — BM2c
* Hodgdon, Edwin Flavius — F3c
*** Horan, Thomas — CBM
* Hullette, Frank Reamer — SC1c
+ Kalmey, Claude A. — QM3c
* Keihn, Frederick William — MM1c
+ Kirby, Elmer S. — E2c
* Patterson, Frank Moore Jr. — MM2c
* Peverill, Harold — MM2c
* Schroder, Casper Garrett — SC3c
* Sheehan, Irwin John — Oiler
+ Thomas, Charles M. — S
* Treacy, Charles Morrow — E3c (R)
* McBride, John Alexander — QM1c
+ Wiegand, George B — QM1c
*** Wilde, Claude — MM1c
Corcoran, R. A. — MM2c –listed in a newspaper account as a survivor, but does not appear in the USN lists.

* Killed in shelling of 27 August 1918
** Injured in shelling. Died 29 August 1918 on board USS Comfort
*** Injured in shelling of 27 August, but survived
+ Uninjured

Additional photographs: SC 209 set 01 • SC 209 set 02 • SC 209 set 03 • SC 209 set 04

New York Times Account of the sinking of SC-209

Leon F. Rittenhouse of 1557 Bradley Avenue, is leaving today for California, where he will continue his study of medicine. Mr. Rittenhouse was a graduate from Washington Missionary College, in the national capital on Monday.

Two of the Wilfred W. Frys’ children were graduated at schools in New York and Massachusetts, this past weekend and today. Tonight Miss Eleanor Fry will be graduated from the Emma Willard School at Troy, New York Last week Wilfred W. Fry, II, was graduated from Mt. Hermon School, Mt. Hermon, Massachusetts.

Henry E. Bowes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Bowes of Merchantville, spent last week in Annapolis, Maryland, where he took entrance examinations for the United States Naval Academy. He was graduated last week from Valley Forge Military Academy, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Miss Helen Pratt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Pratt of 213 North Fourth Street, has returned from Bucknell University for the Summer.

Miss Eleanor Holman of 108 North Fourth Street and Miss Betty Dickinson of 931 Cooper Street, have returned to their respective homes for the Summer. They are attending Syracuse University.

Miss Frances Snyder of 331 North Forty-first street, was graduated at Syracuse this month.

GOLD STAR TOURISTS RETURN FROM FRANCE

New York, Aug. 10.— A Camden county Gold Star widow, Mrs. Evaline Bowes, of 131 Browning road, Merchantville, widow of Lieutenant Henry J. Bowes, U. S. N., arrived here today aboard the S. S. Manhattan with the contingent of Gold Star Mothers and widows returning from a memorial tour of French battlefields.

Represented in the group were wearers of Gold Stars from all sections of the United States.