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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: queencorgi1 on Sunday 09 February 25 17:15 GMT (UK)

Title: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Sunday 09 February 25 17:15 GMT (UK)
This officer was cashiered on 14.9.1916, probably for having sex with another man. I have found an Eric L. Cowan arriving in England in 1957, stating his nationality as New Zealand. He was born on 24.6.96, just the right date for WW1 service. However, I can't find any other information about him! I would be particularly interested in anything relating to his wartime service.

Can anybody help?

Edit by Moderator: spelling of surname in title corrected to CONRAN by Spades.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Sunday 09 February 25 17:19 GMT (UK)
Sorry, I should have added that a puzzling factor is that in the Court Martial registers the sentence of his court martial is 'quashed', although he was cashiered, which doesn't seem to make sense. I think possibly he was originally given a prison sentence and that portion of his punishment was quashed, but not the cashiering.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 09 February 25 18:02 GMT (UK)
There is no E L Cowan in the Army Lists for July or September 1916.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 09 February 25 18:16 GMT (UK)
But there was an E L Conran in 21st Lancers
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Sunday 09 February 25 18:56 GMT (UK)
SHRIEK!
So the court martial registers misspelt his name!
I might have guessed that, I've come across this before. Thank you so much Shaun -- once again you prove omniscient.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: hanes teulu on Sunday 09 February 25 19:32 GMT (UK)
London Gazette - click on heading to view item
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/notice?text=%22e+l+conran%22&categorycode-all=all&noticetypes=&location-postcode-1=&location-distance-1=1&location-local-authority-1=&numberOfLocationSearches=1&start-publish-date=&end-publish-date=&edition=&london-issue=&edinburgh-issue=&belfast-issue=&sort-by=&results-page-size=10
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: minniehaha on Sunday 09 February 25 19:42 GMT (UK)
I can not find a birth for this man in New Zealand under Conran or Cowan...

Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: hanes teulu on Sunday 09 February 25 19:46 GMT (UK)
Whitstable Times & Herne Bay Herald, 3 Jan 1925
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: minniehaha on Sunday 09 February 25 19:46 GMT (UK)
Post deleted.

Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: hanes teulu on Sunday 09 February 25 19:52 GMT (UK)
There is a probate record FindMyPast (and Govt Wills) for Eric Lewis Conran, RAF and Cavalry Club, died 16 Jan 1924, 16 Langham Street, Marylebone.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: hanes teulu on Sunday 09 February 25 19:56 GMT (UK)
Gloucestershire Echo, 7 Jan 1924
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: minniehaha on Sunday 09 February 25 20:44 GMT (UK)
Queensland births:


Eric Lewis Conran
Event date: 22/08/1887
Event type: Birth registration
Registration details: 1887/B/39445Mother: Mary Louisa Molle
Father/parent: Henry Lewis Conran

Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: minniehaha on Monday 10 February 25 00:52 GMT (UK)
Obituary for Henry Lewis Conran. No mention of a New Zealand connection.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45904406?searchTerm=H.%20L.%20Conran

Obituaries for son Eric:

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129850840?searchTerm=Major%20Eric%20conran
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/57472821?searchTerm=Eric%20conran

Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: Lucy2 on Monday 10 February 25 04:05 GMT (UK)

 I have found an Eric L. Cowan arriving in England in 1957, stating his nationality as New Zealand. He was born on 24.6.96,  .....


 ???   Did you mean the person listed as " COWAN - E.L. -- b. 24/06/1896 -- b. NZ / last resident in NZ/ future res. NZ -- visiting UK for 7 months --  etc.   Passenger from Sydney to Southampton per the "Orontes" -- arrived  29 March 1957.
That listing (in typed format), also shows this person was a Female  -- occupation listed as " H.D." (usually refers to household or home duties).      ;D

Glad that others have been able to find Mr E.L. CONRAN for you.     :)

     ~  Lu

Added :  Just to set the record straight  ;D  ---  Edith Isabell COWAN (nee MASTERS) b. NZ  24/06/1896   (There was a NSW (Sydney) aircraft arrival card dated 18 February, 1957 in her name also.)
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: minniehaha on Monday 10 February 25 05:05 GMT (UK)
Snippets about the Major:

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204687604?searchTerm=Major%20conran

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209552312?searchTerm=Major%20conran

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245892755?searchTerm=Major%20conran

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8682435?searchTerm=Major%20conran

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87542335?searchTerm=Major%20conran

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58077132?searchTerm=Colonel%20Eric%20conran

If you Google Colonel Eric Conran you will find his photograph on line....

Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: minniehaha on Monday 10 February 25 06:30 GMT (UK)
Deaths Mar 1924   

Conran    Eric L    36    Marylebone    1a   815

Minniehaha.
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Monday 10 February 25 08:03 GMT (UK)
I can not find a birth for this man in New Zealand under Conran or Cowan...

Minniehaha.
Hi yes, I think that was a false trail. Thank you so much for your contributions!
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Monday 10 February 25 08:05 GMT (UK)

 I have found an Eric L. Cowan arriving in England in 1957, stating his nationality as New Zealand. He was born on 24.6.96,  .....


 ???   Did you mean the person listed as " COWAN - E.L. -- b. 24/06/1896 -- b. NZ / last resident in NZ/ future res. NZ -- visiting UK for 7 months --  etc.   Passenger from Sydney to Southampton per the "Orontes" -- arrived  29 March 1957.
That listing (in typed format), also shows this person was a Female  -- occupation listed as " H.D." (usually refers to household or home duties).      ;D

Glad that others have been able to find Mr E.L. CONRAN for you.     :)

     ~  Lu

Added :  Just to set the record straight  ;D  ---  Edith Isabell COWAN (nee MASTERS) b. NZ  24/06/1896   (There was a NSW (Sydney) aircraft arrival card dated 18 February, 1957 in her name also.)

Lucy, that's just embarrassing -- please assume facepalm emoji
Title: Re: Eric L. Cowan, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Monday 10 February 25 08:07 GMT (UK)
Queensland births:


Eric Lewis Conran
Event date: 22/08/1887
Event type: Birth registration
Registration details: 1887/B/39445Mother: Mary Louisa Molle
Father/parent: Henry Lewis Conran

Minniehaha.

Oh thank you! So he was born in Australia!
Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: hanes teulu on Tuesday 11 February 25 12:19 GMT (UK)
https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/183308-major-eric-lewis-conran-photographs/
Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: hanes teulu on Tuesday 11 February 25 12:26 GMT (UK)
See No.342
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1912_Aviators_Certificates_-_UKee No. 342

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._L._Conran
Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: minniehaha on Tuesday 11 February 25 12:26 GMT (UK)
https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/183308-major-eric-lewis-conran-photographs/

See reply# 14 re photograph....

Minniehaha.

Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Tuesday 11 February 25 13:09 GMT (UK)
Hi Minnie, yes, I found these yesterday!
Delighted to see that Conran bears a strong resemblance to Lord Flashheart in Blackadder, as portrayed by Rik Mayall ... personality-wise too. He was a terrifying driver, too!
Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Tuesday 11 February 25 19:34 GMT (UK)
See No.342
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1912_Aviators_Certificates_-_UKee No. 342

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._L._Conran
Thank you, I saw this yesterday! It's not often I have a subject whose career is mentioned in Wikipedia, even if it isn't directly his entry.
Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: CraigM63 on Friday 14 February 25 21:19 GMT (UK)
Eric Lewis Conran died while undergoing an operation for a supposed cerebral tumour on 6 January 1924, while still a serving officer in the RAF.

https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/conran-e.l.-eric-lewis (https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/conran-e.l.-eric-lewis)
https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000240475-conran-e.l.-eric-lewis (https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000240475-conran-e.l.-eric-lewis)

He also has two earlier casualty incident cards, the first of which states that he was wounded on 26 March 1915, apparently while attached to the RFC as a member of the 2 County of London Yeomanry, although the second card with the same date says he was serving with the Lancers and dismissed from the service. Given that both cards have the same date, the two are presumably related to the same incident which resulted in him being courtmartialed.

https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/conran-e.l (https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/conran-e.l)
https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000240474-conran-e.l (https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000240474-conran-e.l)

He also has an associated casualty form that gives a potted history of his career up to the point at which he was courtmartialled. Note that the link below has a link to a second page at the foot of the casualty form shown. Although the casualty cards above suggest his courtmartial was a result of his wounding on 26 March 1915, the form below shows he wasn't courtmartialled and dismissed from the service until September 1916.

https://www.casualtyforms.org/form/3903 (https://www.casualtyforms.org/form/3903)





Title: Re: Eric L. Conran, probably born 1896, served with 21st (Empress of India) Lancers
Post by: queencorgi1 on Saturday 19 April 25 15:27 BST (UK)
Thank you Craig, and many apologies for not spotting your contribution until now -- I didn't get a notification. Much appreciated.