Idris Bowen, like his older brother, Enos, was a hairdresser, living in East Melbourne with his mother, Mary Elizabeth Bowen and his sister, Agnes. He enlisted at Broadmeadows on 26 February, 1916 and was assigned to the Fifth Battalion, 17 Reinforcements, with the rank of private. He was 5' 4", with brown eyes and hair already going grey. He sailed on the Euripides and joined the British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria on 28 May. On 4 June, his battalion sailed for Marseilles and moved to the Western Front. The Fifth Division had significant battles at Fromelles and Polygon Wood. Idris Bowen was killed on 20 December, 1916, and buried at the Bernfay Wood British Cemetery. Enos was 37 when he enlisted in Western Australia. After training in Western Australia, he was transferred to France. He was severely wounded by a gunshot wound to the left thigh and buttock on 6 November 1916, sent back to hospital in England and was not returned to the Front. He was discharged on 13 October, 1918 and returned to Melbourne, where he lived at 252 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, close to his mother and sisters, who were by then living in Albert Park. Mary Elizabeth Bowen was awarded a pension of two pounds per fortnight, and sister Lilly was given 30/- per fornight. The Argus of 20 December 1919 records an In Memorium tribute to Idris:

BOWEN: In loving memory of our dear son, Idris Bowen (Dick), killed in action, in France, 30th December 1916.

Days of sadness still come o'er

Memory keeps our dear one near us

Whom God claimed three years ago

Inserted by Mother, Lilly, Molly and Enos (returned)