David John

Background

Bowen was born in Treherbert to John and Leah Bowen.

Career

David John Bowen"s professional fights were as follows:

1910

2 April - Young Roberts (Treherbert), Pontypridd Millfield Air Corps

20 August – Jack Titt (Pentre)

1911

10 April – "Young" (Johnny) Walters (Pontypool), Pontypridd Millfield Air Corps

14 October – Gus Venn (Pontypridd), Pontypridd Millfield Air Corps

11 November – Batt McCarthy (Penarth), Hartlepool "Olympia"

rink

20 November – Gerry Delaney (Bradford), South Shields

25 November – Billy Grant (Stockton), Hartlepool "Olympia" rink

1912

5 March – "Young" Walters (Pontypool), Cardiff Park Hall (Dai’s last fight)

Cundick arranged for a series of boxing contests in the United States for both of his boxers, and they booked tickets with agents Dean and Dawson in Cardiff (ticket number 54636. 16 pounds, 2 shillings). Their ticket was a higher price than the regular steerage ticket as it allowed them access to the first class passengers" gym.

Dai and Les were originally due to sail for America on the Lusitania on Saturday 6 April 1912.

They had to wait for Dai’s new suit to arrive, which meant they found passage on the Titanic instead. Boarding the Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers, Bowen wrote a letter to his mother:

Both boxers died in the sinking, although Bowen"s body was never recovered.

The body of Williams was recovered by the CS Mackay-Bennett, and buried at sea on Monday 22 April 1912. David John Bowen was 20 years old and single at his time of death.

Bowen"s family paid for a grave site memorial in his honour to be erected in Treorchy Cemetery.

Achievements

• Dai Bowen won the Welsh lightweight title, and started boxing on the various British circuits.

Connections

Friend:

John Bowen