Dr. - Mayor George Herbert Bowlby, M. D.^[1]

1865 - 1916  (51 years)

• Name	George Herbert Bowlby
  Prefix	Dr. - Mayor
  Suffix	M. D.
  Born	16 Jul 1865	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Church of England
  Occupation	1881	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Student
  Residence	1881	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Church of England
  Occupation	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Residence	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Anglican
  Occupation	1894	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Elected Office	1896	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Mayor - councillor - Kitchener
  	Years Served: 1896-97, 1898-99 (Deputy Reeve), 1900, 1901 (Mayor)
  Med. Note	Coroners report available East Sussex Records Office ref. COR/1/3/404 - date: 14 Nov 1916 States "George Herbert, Captain, Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Supplies, Canadian Forces, London Area at Seaford, 52; seen to fall off Seaford Head, had felt severe head pains for previous fortnight; accidental death"
  Military	WW1  [8]
  		Bowlby,GeorgeHerbert-MilitaryPicture.JPG
  		Bowlby,GeorgeHerbert-UniversityRollofService1914-1918.JPG
  		Bowlby,GeorgeHerbert-MilitaryPicture001.JPG
  Residence	1897	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		Residence of Dr. G. H. Bowlby 1897 Kitchener From: Busy Berlin Jubilee Souvenir 1897, published by Berlin News-Record
  Occupation	1901	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Doctor
  Occupation	1911	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Doctor
  Residence	1911	11 Weber St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  		Kitchener-WeberSt.W.011-Dr.G.H.Bowlby.jpg From the Celebration of Cityhood 1912
  Residence	1911	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Anglican
  Military	1914	WW1   [7]
  	WW1, Corporal, Calvery,
  Military	1914	WW1   [8]
  	WW1, Major
  Name	G. H. Bowlby
  Name	Herbert Bowlby
  Residence	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-38626P
  Died	10 Nov 1916	Seaford, , Sussex, England   [8, 9]
  	Cause: fall from cliff
  Buried	St. John The Evangelist Church of England, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I38626	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Dr. David Sovereign Bowlby,   b. 15 Sep 1828, Townsend Township, Norfolk Co., Ontario ,   d. 26 Dec 1904, Rome, , Lazio, Italy  (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Martha Esther Murphy,   b. 4 Jul 1838, Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	1 Jul 1856	Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec   [10, 11]
  Family ID	F10129	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Blanche Alexandrine "Alexandra" "Adine" Seagram,   b. 24 Aug 1871, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Jul 1919, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 47 years)
  Married	18 Apr 1894	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F10108	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Dr. Mayor George Henry Bowlby From: Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912

  
  

• Notes

  MAJOR G. H. Bowlby On Sunday morning, November 12th, news came to Kitchener, Ont., his native city, that Major G. H. Bowlby, Director of Medical Service, Canadian Expeditionary Forces, had met his death in a fall from a cliff near Seaford, on the south coast of England. The City Hall flag was placed at half mast in token of respect to the memory of this distinguished citizen and ex-mayor. George Herbert Bowlby, elder son of the late Dr. D. S. and Martha Murphy Bowlby, was born July 16th, 1865. His great grandfather, an early United Empire Loyalist, left the State of New Jersey to settle in Nova Scotia. His grandfather, as a young man, was Captain of Coast Guards, in Nova Scotia, in the war of 1812. After preliminary education at the public and high schools of his native place, and a year at St. Jerome's College, he took the course in medicine at Trinity Medical College, Toronto, and later took post graduate work in England where he became Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. For some years he was in partnership with his father in the practice of his profession. Devoting himself more particularly to surgery, in which he eventually became eminent, he again went abroad for study and exper ience in Vienna and elsewhere. In 1906 he returned to resume regular prac tice. He was for some years identified with the County cavalry regiment, known as Grey's Horse, of which he was medical officer, with the rank of Captain. He was on the Medical Advisory Committee of the local hospital, in which he took keen interest. Dr. Bowlby was for some years in the Town Council and was Mayor in 1901. The breaking out of the war naturally found a man of Dr. Bowlby 's patriotism and antecedents anxious to do his part. On application he received appointment on hospital service in England, with retention of his previous rank of Captain, and left this city in July 1915. He was active at the military hospital, Shorncliffe, England, later at Bath, and recently at Seaford. Shortly before his tragic death he was promoted to be Director of Medical Service, and to the rank of Major. From his school days G. H. Bowlby was prominent in sports. He was a member of the famous Berlin High School football eleven in the early eighties. He was a member of the Waterloo County Golf and Country Club, and charter member of the Grand River Country Club. He was a past warden of St. John's Anglican Church. In 1894 he married Adine, only daughter of Joseph E. Seagram, Esq. Mrs. Bowlby accompanied her husband to England. Of the Waterloo Historical Society, Dr. Bowlby was an active and helpful Member of Council from its beginning. Fourth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society, 1916 _____________________________ Dr. G. H. Bowlby, Mayor 1901. Dr. G. H. Bowlby, M. R. C. S. was the first native of Berlin elected mayor. He was educated at Trinity Medical College, Toronto, and in London, England. He entered the council in 1896. For two years he was chairman of the Market Committee and for three years chairman of the Sewer Committee. In 1901, he was elected mayor. His year was marked by the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York (now King George and Queen Mary). Locally, a deputation was sent to Saginaw, Mich., to investigate the sugar beet industry; as a result the sugar factory was established in Berlin. Dr. Bowlby is a progressive. Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912, Berlin, Ontario, The German Printing and Publishing Co ___________________________ G. HERBERT BOWLBY, M.D. FOUND DEAD AT BOTTOM OF CLIFF Well-Known Kitchener physician Meets With Sudden and Tragic End of Seaford, England - Was Assistant Director of Medical Service WITH ARMY MEDICAL CORPS SINCE JULY, 1915 "Dr. Herbert Bowlby is dead," was the shocking information which was circulated throughout the city with great rapidity on Sunday morning, after the message had been received by relatives in the city about 10: 30 o'clock announcing that Capt. G. Herbert Bowlby, M.D., had been found dead at the foot of a cliff near Seaford. Within a few minutes of receiving the news in the city a number of the civic flags were lowered to half-mast out of respect to the memory of the deceased. The message was sent from Ottawa by the Officers in charge of Records, and was addressed to Mrs. Adin S. Bowlby, 11 Weber St., W., wife of the deceased officer, who is also in England. Mr. Reinhold Lang, who is occupying the Bowlby residence, telephoned to Capt. T.W. Seagram, Paymaster of the 118th Battalion; informing him that a message was received announcing the death of Dr. Bowlby. The relatives of Dr. Bowlby were immediately notified and the news came as a severe and unexpected shock to all. The message was as follows: - "Deeply regret to inform you that Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Service, Seaford, reports November 11th, 1916, Captain George Herbert Bowlby, A.D. M.S. Embarkation, Shoreham-in-Sea, was found dead at foot of cliff near Seaford. Further particulars will be sent when available." Late in the afternoon a brief cablegram was received by relatives from Mrs. Bowlby with this information "Herbert dead." It is expected that further information as to the tragic death of the late Dr. Bowlby will be received direct from England today. The Late Dr. Bowlby The late Capt. G. Herbert Bowlby, M.D., L.R.C.P., A.D.S.M., was born in this city in July fifty-one years ago, and has lived here the greater portion of his life. He was a son of the late Dr. D.S. Bowlby and is a direct descendant of the United Empire Loyalists who came to Canada at the time of the revolutionary war in the United States. His ancestors originated in Nottingham, England. Richard Bowlby, of whom the doctor is a direct descendant, came to America with the celebrated William Penn, the founder of the state of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bowlby was educated at the Public and High Schools in this city, and also took a course at St. Jerome's College. He was a graduate of Toronto University, where he received his degree in medicine. He had since become a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London and also was a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians. During his school days he was prominently identified with the athletic activities of the student and was goal keeper for the famous High School football team of 1877 to 1882. He was also identified with various cricket clubs in this city and in Toronto. Dr. Bowlby was medical officer of the grey's Home and at the last encampment attended the lectures on army hospital work and field ambulance work, and after passing the necessary examinations took the rank of Captain, which was recognized by the military authorities when he offered his service with the Army Medical Corps with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He left this city in July of 1915 to assume his duties and since arriving in England has been on duty in the large military Hospitals at Shorncliffe and more recently at Bath. He was recently appointed Assistant Director of Medical Service. Since he has been on hospital duty in England, Dr. Bowlby has written many interesting letters to his aged mother, Mrs. D.S. Bowlby, 57 Margaret Avenue, in which he gave vivid descriptions of the scenic beauties surrounding the tow institutions at Shorncliffe and Bath. It is supposed that while taking a walk to view the scenery around the Hospital at Bath that he met with an accident which resulted in his death as reported by the military authorities. During his residence in the city Dr. Bowlby took an active interest in municipal affairs and served several years in the Council and was Mayor of the town in 1901. He always took a keen interest in the welfare of the K-W Hospital and at the time of his death was a member of the Medical Advisory Committee. He was also a former Medical Health Officer. Since the commencement of the war he was active in the various patriotic enterprises of the city. The late Dr. Bowlby is survived by his wife, who is a daughter of Jos. E. Seagram, ex-M.P., his aged mother, two sisters, Mrs. E.P. Clement, and Mrs. J.P. Fennell, and one brother D. Shannon Bowlby, all of Kitchener. It is not definitely known whether the remains will be brought to this city for burial. Note: Picture attached to newspaper article. Berlin Daily Telegraph 13 Nov 1916 pg 1, 5 _________________ BOWLBY, GEORGE HERBERT was born in Berlin on July 16, 1865, a son of Dr. David S. Bowlby. He received his preliminary education in the local schools, and attended Trinity Medical School, Toronto, receiving his medical degree there. He then took postgraduate work in England, obtaining the degrees of Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, following this by attendance at hospitals in Vienna and Berlin. In January 1890 he returned home and entered practice in association with his father. He became involved in municipal affairs, being elected to Council in 1896, and in 1901 became mayor, the first native of Berlin to fill that position. In July of 1903 he sold his practice to Mr. C. J. W. Karn of Picton, it being his intention to take further postgraduate work in surgery and then locate in some large city. After a year and a half he returned, purchasing the practice of the late Dr. W. J. Arnott. He occupied the house on Weber Street between Ontario and Queen Streets, whose last medical resident was Dr. George Watson. He was active in the reserve, being Medical Officer of Grey's Horse, the county cavalry regiment. When the war broke out he volunteered his services, and in 1915 was appointed to hospital service in England. His assignment was to hospitals where Canadian troops were undergoing treatment. On November 12, 1916, shortly after being appointed Assistant Director of Medical Services, he died near Seaford in a fall from a cliff. He was survived by his widow, the former Adine Seagram. From: Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925 by Alexander D. Campbell __________________________ Canadian officer - he died at Seaford, Sussex, England in a fall from a cliff - his remains were cremated & were believed to have been returned for burial to Kitchener.

  
  

• Sources

  [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 012022-94. George Herbert Bowlby, 28, occ. Physician, b. Canada, res. Berlin, son of David S. and Martha married Blanche Alexandrine Seagram, 22, b. Canada, res. Waterloo, daughter of Joseph E. and Stephanie, Witn D.S. Bowlby of Berlin and Beatrice Osler of Toronto, 18 April 1894 in Waterloo. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-11 Page 10. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 35. [S158] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1881, Div. 2 Pg. 64. [S340] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1911, Div. 28 Pg. 6. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 1 Page 24. [S157] Military - Canada - World War I - Attestation papers. [S1890] Military - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Kitchener Public Library WW1 Soldiers Card Index Soldier Information Cards - World War One. [S1891] Military - Peace Souvenir - Activities of Waterloo County in the Great War 1914-1918. BOWLBY, G. H., (M.D.), Maj., Kitchener, Enlisted July 1915, C.A. M.C. Accidentally Killed 10-11-16, in England [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), 09 Jul 1856. 01 Jul 1856 In Montreal, on Tuesday, July 1st, by the Rev'd. John McLoud, at the residence of the bride's father, Martha Esther, youngest daughter of Alexander Murphy, Esq., Merchant of Montreal, to David S. Bowlby, M.D. of the town of Berlin, County of Waterloo, C.W. [S107] Book - The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Ontario Volume, 1880.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 16 Jul 1865 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Student - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1881 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Anglican - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1894 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 18 Apr 1894 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Mayor - councillor - Kitchener - 1896 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1897 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Doctor - 1901 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Doctor - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1911 - 11 Weber St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Anglican - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: fall from cliff - 10 Nov 1916 - Seaford, , Sussex, England Buried - - St. John The Evangelist Church of England, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth