Pte Bowman was killed in action in the advance up the Liri Valley toward the Hitler Line south of Pontecorvo, Italy. The 17th of May, 1944 saw a spectacular capture by two platoons (16 and 17) of the Forme d’Aquino, an outpost of the Hitler Line designed to thwart a direct attack. The battalion captured the Forme taking 80 German prisoners with those killed uncounted. The 48th casualties were eight. Private Bowman, of 16 Platoon, led a successful assault against a superior German position. His leadership would have seen him receive the Military Medal for his actions, however he was killed leading the assault.

Lawrence Bertram Bowman enlisted in Cobourg, Ontario with the 1st Bn, Midland Regiment, A Company on 31 July 1940 and was given the service number C65219. He gave his next of kin as his father, Jackson, also naming his mother Lillian at RR#6 Cobourg, Ontario. He was given permission to marry and married to Evelyn Ruth Bowman on 18 October 1940, naming her his next of kin at 15 Stevenson Avenue, Toronto. They had a son, Vincent Ross born 25 August 1941.

Pte Bowman transferred to the 48th Highlanders of Canada and went overseas, embarking in the UK on 31 March 1943. He was taken on strength of the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders on 13 June 1943. He remained in England on the 48th Highlanders X-4 list effective 13 June 1943  (Soldiers available for reinforcement) when the battalion left in late June for the landings at Pachino, Sicily. He was sent to Italy, embarking on 29 June, arriving in the field in Sicily on 20 August and remained on the X-4 list.

He was taken on strength of the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders on 24 August while the battalion was at rest in Sicily. On 26 August he was sent to hospital (48th Highlanders X-3 list) and spent time in hospital, field ambulances and other positions until returning to the 48th Highlanders X-4 list on 14 January 1944. He joined the battalion on 19 January when the battalion was on the Arielli River in a defensive position, conducting aggressive patrols into the German lines to determine their positions and strength.  He remained with the battalion when they transferred across Italy to the Liri Valley. He was killed in action on 17 May 1944 on the first day of the advance up the Liri Valley towards the vaunted Adolph Hitler Line at Pontecorvo.

NOK: Son of Jackson A. and Lillian Bowman; husband of Evelyn Ruth Bowman, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.