1915 to 1919, in nine chapters, at home and away

The Quiet Soldier

The life of Henry John Bowles: farm hand, soldier and father. Told through the records he left, the places he stood, and a voice imagined for him.

This exhibition traces one man through one family's memories. Henry John Bowles was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather to our family. His granddaughter, Angela Wright, remembers him fondly, and it is largely through her memoirs that we have been able to trace his life.

Open the journey map Start from the beginning

Made by his family, to celebrate and remember our hero, who fought for our freedom. Why we made this exhibition

Henry Bowles as a young soldier, smiling, in a peaked cap and buttoned army tunic. — Henry in uniform. Copied from Angela Wright's memoir.

How to read what you see

Real papers, maps and photographs from the time.

From our own family's papers and photographs.

Not Henry himself, but men just like him.

Imagined from the records, and always marked.