Sir (John) William Bowen (8 May 1876 - 1 April 1965) was a postal worker, trade unionist and Labour Party politician. Born in a small village near Swansea, he was the son of a railway signalman. He left school at the age of 11 to work as a telegraph messenger for the Post Office. He was promoted to be a telegraphist at the age of 15, shortly thereafter becoming a postman. When his father died he was aged 17 and he became the sole wage earner for a family of eight. He improved his education by attending night classes.