Battlefield poppy which tragic WWI British soldier sent to his ‘darling wife’ before he was killed by a shell in 1917 is unearthed a century later

• James Bowen, of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, picked the flower in 1915 

A battlefield poppy which a WW1 British soldier sent to his loving wife before he was killed in action has been discovered a century later.

Private James Bowen, of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, picked the flower in the summer of 1915 in Northern France.

He put it in an envelope with an embroidered floral postcard addressed ‘to my darling wife, love to you from your loving husband’.

In September 1917, Pte Bowen, who boasted morale with his ‘cheery’ demeanour, was killed instantly by a shell during an attack.

His grieving widow, from Edgeley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, kept hold of the poppy, his campaign medals and the letter informing her of his death.

The poignant archive has now emerged for sale for £1,500 at Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyhire. 

Private James Bowen put the poppy in an envelope with an embroidered floral postcard 

He wrote on the postcard ‘To my darling wife, love to you from your loving husband’

The militaria collection, uncovered by Hansons Auctioneers, includes letters and gallantry medals sent to Mrs Bowen following the loss of her war hero husband

Penned by Pte Bowen’s commanding officer, R.P Allday, it reads: ‘It is with the deepest regret I have to inform you of the death in action of your husband Pte J Bowen.

‘He was killed by a shell early on in the attack, death being instantaneous, you probably know he was my servant (bat man), he was always eager and willing to assist me in every way and always looked after me very well, so that I shall miss him greatly.

‘Before we went into action he was most cheery and greatly assisted in keeping the spirits of the men up.

‘Although he did not have the good fortune to come through safely, as he told me we were both going to, just before we went away, you have the consolation of knowing that he died fighting for his king & country, which is the highest honour a soldier can have.’

The archive has emerged for sale at Hansons Auctioneers, consigned by a distant relative.

William Hayward, militaria valuer at Hansons, said: ‘This find is unique and heartbreaking. There is nothing more poignant than seeing a poppy from the WW1 battlefields.

‘Knowing it was sent with love from France during that brutal conflict makes it a moving memento. It has survived for more than 100 years as a testament to love.

His grieving widow, from Edgeley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, kept hold of the poppy, his campaign medals and the letter informing her of his death

The letter informing Mrs Bowen of her husband’s death in WW1

‘We believe the poppy was sent to Mrs Bowen in 1915. She treasured it forever along with her husband’s military memorabilia.

‘You gain an inkling of her pain because the items are quite worn. She must have looked at them countless times throughout her life. That would never happen if they were put away and forgotten about.

‘She was one of thousands of young women torn apart from their loved ones by the Great War. That was hard enough but months and years of worrying and waiting followed.

‘So many dreaded a letter telling them their son or husband had been lost in action. Mrs Bowen received that news 106 years ago.

‘A note with the 1914 Star medal praises her husband’s service in the British Armed Services in France and Belgium in 1914 and assured her of the King’s high appreciation of services rendered. But a few words can’t mend a broken heart.

‘The fact that she kept everything from that point in her life reveals the impact of her loss.’

He continued: ‘It’s sad to think James made it through three years of conflict to the autumn of 1917, one year before the war ended in 1918.

‘His commanding officer described him as a cheery man who lifted the spirits of those around him. He truly believed he would pull through.

‘Sadly, he was one of 750,000 British servicemen killed during World War One.

‘Pte Bowen’s poppy, medals and military record bear testament to his bravery, and a wife’s devotion.

‘It’s an important reminder of the terrible human cost of all wars.’

Pte Bowen’s medal group consists of the 1914 Star; 1914-18 War Medal and Victory Medal.

The sale takes place on November 7.

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