John Hogg Cowan was the eldest son of James and Annie Cowan. He was born on 20th February 1897. He was one of nine children, all born in the Moneymore area. They were a farming family. Lieutenant John Cowan served with the Royal Navy Reserve. During the German Spring Offensive in 1918, Lieutenant Cowan was surrounded by Germans at Bertincourt, and became a prisoner of war in Germany. He was repatriated at the end of the war.