This street is named in memory of Private George Edward Dowell.
George Edward Dowell was born on 11 October 1911 in Westville NS. He moved to London ON with his family in 1928, settling on Euclid Avenue. After completing his schooling, he worked at Hobbs Glass Company and served with the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) before joining the Royal Canadian Regiment on 7 January 1940.
Private Dowell sailed for England in May 1940 and on 13 June, embarked for Brest France with his Regiment as part of the 1st Canadian Division. The Division, as part of the 2nd British Expeditionary Force was to defend the Britanny Peninsula from further German incursion on French territory. However, the situation was chaotic and orders were issued on 14 June, reversing the movements. The RCR, who had travelled by train to Laval returned to Brest and were back in the UK by 17 June.
Once back in the UK, evolving defensive plans had the Canadians moving from Aldershot to Oxford and then Surrey. As part of the latter move, the RCR found themselves near Charlwood and on 25 August 1940, the area became the target of a German air raid. Private Dowell was killed instantly when a bomb fell on the RCR’s bivouac area. He is buried at the Brookwood Military Cemetery, UK.
