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Archie Bowman: Foot Soldier, German POW and League of Nations Man
In 1915, Archie Bowman, a philosophy professor at Princeton, was granted leave of absence to join the British army. He served in the HLI and was captured at the Battle of the Lys.
Prison camp, though, turned out not to be the living death he he was fluent in German and became the main go-between with camp authorities and British prisoners; he gave talks to hundreds of prisoners, and wrote up in verse form his account of the battle and his capture and two-day march into captivity. When he was transferred to another camp, his writings were confiscated; but in his new camp his responsibilities increased, and he became key negotiator and formed a bond with the Commandant, a fellow academic, who secured the release of his confiscated work, which, when completed, was published as prison camp verses.
After the Armistice, he was posted to the British Army of the Rhine in Cologne, where he found his most interesting work in the service, interviewing German civilians wishing to travel into another Occupied Zone.
Although Bowman didn’t become a pacifist he was convinced more could be done to prevent wars; and he dedicated himself to the cause of peace and championed the ideal of the League of Nations, at the cost of his health.
Based on the archived Bowman Papers, it is a fascinating story of a man of high principle and great depth of feeling who had the love and support of his wife Mabel.
Prison camp, though, turned out not to be the living death he he was fluent in German and became the main go-between with camp authorities and British prisoners; he gave talks to hundreds of prisoners, and wrote up in verse form his account of the battle and his capture and two-day march into captivity. When he was transferred to another camp, his writings were confiscated; but in his new camp his responsibilities increased, and he became key negotiator and formed a bond with the Commandant, a fellow academic, who secured the release of his confiscated work, which, when completed, was published as prison camp verses.
After the Armistice, he was posted to the British Army of the Rhine in Cologne, where he found his most interesting work in the service, interviewing German civilians wishing to travel into another Occupied Zone.
Although Bowman didn’t become a pacifist he was convinced more could be done to prevent wars; and he dedicated himself to the cause of peace and championed the ideal of the League of Nations, at the cost of his health.
Based on the archived Bowman Papers, it is a fascinating story of a man of high principle and great depth of feeling who had the love and support of his wife Mabel.
184 pages, Hardcover
Published May 30, 2018
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October 20, 2023
A short but thoughtful book.
WWI combat veteran and philosopher Archie Bowman, on his thoughts about the quality of people in public office: “The history of the cabinet during the war years is not an edifying story. The personages presented to us were not impressive personages. It is difficult to feel that the highest interests of the nation were safe in their hands. And yet they were the nation’s choice. They represented with considerable accuracy the minds of the people who put them where they are. It is no that they are bad men, but merely that they are superficial. What one feels about them is that their minds have never been trained to take a deeply serious, a deeply-understanding view of life, and the poorness of their mental quality is reflected in their conduct of affairs.
There are still among us I am glad to say, survivors of a finer breed – some of them in office. I can think of one or two; and you can also. Now when you consider these men, you will observe that while they differ in their views and their political affiliations, there is one thing they have in common. They are men of books as well as men of affairs… They all have an inner as well as an outer life; and the latter is the externalization of the former. That such men should be forthcoming is a vital need of the nation; and it is no less necessary that we should know them when we see them, and that we should place them where they may serve us best.”
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