Born on 8 August 1876 at Greenock, Scotland. Son of the late James and Jane M. Bowie, Greenock, Scotland; husband of Annie (née Bell) Bowie, father of Margaret, Jeanie, Hugh, Violet, Douglas and Robert of Carman, Manitoba.  He was a baker by trade, engineer, played football and cricket and played the organ and piano.

He enlisted 19 April 1916 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He had service in Canada only and was discharged 1 May 1917 as medically unfit.

Buried Winnipeg (Brookside) Cemetery. Grave Reference Sec. D, Lot 3525.1/2.