THE career of a Cumbrian who kept the British Army supplied with the equipment it needed was outlined in a talk to a group dedicated to keeping alive the memory of those who took part in the First World War .

Terry Dean’s illustrated presentation to members of the North Lancashire branch of the Western Front Association was called “Sir John Steven Cowans - A War Winning Genius” .

“Jack” Cowans was born in Carlisle on March 11 in 1862 and was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as an officer in 1881.

He became a deputy assistant quartermaster general at the army headquarters in 1898 before moving on to be assistant quartermaster-general for 2nd Division at Aldershot Command in 1903.

In 1906 he was appointed director-general of military education for the Indian Army and in 1907 he became director of staff duties and training at the army headquarters in India.

He then became commander of the Presidency Brigade in Calcutta in 1908.

He returned to the UK in 1910 to be director-general of the territorial forces and then became quartermaster-General to the forces in 1912.

In this role he was responsible for finding accommodation and supplies for more than a million newly enlisted servicemen at the start of the First World War and worked closely with the Women's Legion and the YMCA to achieve this.

Prime Minister Herbert Asquith described Cowans as "the best quartermaster since Moses”.

In October 1919, Cowans was appointed a Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer by Alexander of Greece, King of the Hellenes, the highest order of Greece.

Cowans was also made a freeman of Carlisle,

He retired in 1919 and died on April 16 in 1921.

The next meeting of the branch is at 7.30pm on Monday, March 6, in the education room of the City Museum, Lancaster.

Dr Lesley Wright will talk about "Battlefield Medicine in the First World War".

On Monday, April 3, from 7.30pm it will by Dr Graham Kemp called "Navy Takes to the Air" on the role of the Royal Naval Air Service from 1914 to 1917.

All are welcome at the talks and entrance donations of £3 are invited to support branch funds.