Trucking Magazine – July 2019

With a rich road transport history, Bowker’s family ethos

and determined diversification have kept it on the leading

edge of British haulage – and it’s latest pair of high-spec

FH16s celebrate its 100 years in business

By Neil Moffat

PHOTOGRAPHY CRAIG ECCLESTON

http://www.truckingmag.co.uk Summer 2019 TRUCKING 53

A DRIVING

AMBITION

W

illiam Henry Bowker

founded WH Bowker

Ltd on his return

from the First World

War in 1919. William

was of the conflict’s early enlisters in

August 1914, as he wanted to learn to

drive, see Paris and, as they were told at

the time, the War would be over by

Christmas. He was taught to drive on

Horse Guards Parade in London before

setting off to France, where he drove

ambulances throughout the War. At the

end of the conflict, he used his £75 War

Gratuity to buy a refurbished ex-Army

1917 RAF-Type Leyland truck.

William started working for the

cotton mills in his hometown of ➤