Private Robert Ernest Cowling was born on January 25th, 1885, to parents Joseph Cowling and Betsy Jael Gibbs Cowling. He joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force roughly two years into the war, on June 26th, 1916, at 31 years of age. Before signing up for service, he had worked as a stone mason in his home village of Churchville (Source: Library & Archives Canada). Private Cowling was part of the 239th Battalion, CEF. This battalion was based in Camp Valcartier, Quebec, and began recruiting in the Spring of 1916, seeking experienced railway men (Source: Wikipedia).

         Private Cowling never made it overseas and never saw any battle. When Cowling was about 8 years old he had a severe case of diphtheria, and ever since then he had been afflicted by epilepsy. Apparently he suffered one of his resulting ‘fits’ as they are referred to in his discharge papers, during his training at Valcartier, and was left behind in the hospital as the rest of the battalion set sail for Europe. Cowling was discharged as “Medically Unfit” for service and sent home. It is also noted in his discharge papers that he had “several scars on his tongue - the result of these fits”.

        Private R. Cowling died in 1927 at the age of 41 or 42 (Source: Library & Archives Canada).  His gravestone at Churchville Cemetery  is shown below - accompanied by the names of his parents, and his brother William, who was apparently buried in B.C.