I am indebted to Howard Benson of Newcastle, Australia for the biography of Hardy Jowett, who knew his grandmother - Edith Benson (formerly Coates), daughter of Fred and Jerissa Coates (formerly Wright) of Heaton Road, Manningham. The article was amongst some papers about Howard's grandfather's brother, Canon James Benson, priest in Papua New Guinea and captured by the Japanese theior in WW2. If anyone has any further information on Hardy and his connection with the Benson/Coates families can they please contact Howard or myself (or preferably both!)
Mr Jowett was connected with the firm of S. R. Myers and Co. Ltd., of Colliergate, Bradford. He began mission work in Hankow as a lay worker with the Wesleyan Methodist Society and was later ordained to the ministry.
During the Great War he was appointed an officer in the Chinese Labour Corps, travelling across the Pacific in charge of a contingent of recruits for the C.L.C. In France he was at first a second lieutenant but quickly rose to be staff captain, and the end of the war found him mentioned in despatches, and with other honours. He remained in the devastated area until March 1920.
After service in the war he was appointed Junior District Office of Wei Hai Wei, later becoming senior officer, and subsequently he accepted an offer from the Asiatic Petroleum Company to become their Pekin manager, a post he retained until his retirement in 1933.
The "Pelping Chronicle," in recording his death, described him as one of the best known residents of the city – "versatile, genial, and always ready to be helpful, he leaves Pelping district poorer for his passing."
He was associated with a variety of organisations, including the Rotary Club, Toc H, the China International Famine Relief Commission, the Pelping Institute of Fine Arts, the College of Chinese Studies, and the British Chamber of Commerce. Last Autumn he had an accident while on an important expedition on behalf of the Famine Relief Commission, and recovery from the accident exhausted his energy.
It was in response to one of his last wishes that his ashes were brought to England and his native city. He leaves a widow and two sons.
He formerly attended Farfield Jubilee Hall, Bradford, and on his last visit to Bradford – 20 years ago – he preached at the Tabernacle, Whitby Road, Manningham. The funeral service at Scholemoor was conducted by Mr. W. P. Myers, the present pastor of the Tabernacle, Manningham.
Copyright S D Jowitt