A POSTING to India saved Cross Roads man John Robert Bowker from the ravages of the Western Front.

But while serving for two years in Quetta and Peshawar the married father-of-three’s division was mobilised on several occasions.

Nevertheless Private Bowker, a soldier with the Somerset Light Infantry, survived the First World War.

He returned home to Cross Roads, where he had previously worked in a stone yard, to rejoin wife Ethel and daughters Florence, Myrtle and Emma.

By 1927 John had begun his 30-year employment with Messrs Lawrence Brothers in Lawkholme Lane, possibly in various roles including stone quarryman, engine tenter and electric crane driver.

The same year, while the family were living at Queens Road, Ingrow, youngest daughter Emma married at the age of about 17.

At the outbreak of the Second World War John was 60 years old, and he spent the war on night duty for Keighley foundry Prince Smith and Stells.

John retired in 1946, and six years later he and Edith celebrated their golden wedding. John died two years later.

John’s photograph was on the original Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Sunday School war memorial/roll of honour, but he was not identified until this February when his family came forward during the unveiling event for the recreated memorial.