Selected Biographies

Bowers, Albert Edward – Born: Shimpling, Suffolk in 1895.  Parents: John William Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Elizabeth [née Squirrell].  Family Connections: Brother to Harry William Bowers [b1882]; also, cousin of William Charles Bowers [b1897], Bertie Fred Bowers [b1891] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893], and nephew of Walter Bowers [b1871], Charles Bowers [b1873], Thomas Bowers [b1875] and Samuel Bowers [b1880].  Home: Aveley Lane, Shimpling, Suffolk (1901 to 1911), Bradwell Ash, Suffolk [1938].  Occupation: Cowman’s Help (1911).  Married: Minnie Alice Plummer in 1928.  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 22.3.1938.[1]

Bowers, Bertie Fred – Born: Alpheton, Suffolk on 6.2.1891.[2]  Parents: Mary Bowers and Harry Ephraim Ponder [stepfather] (Agricultural Labourer) both of Long Melford.  Family Connections: Half-brother of George William Ponder [b1900] and Albert Edward Ponder [b1902] and stepbrother of Alfred Ponder [b1889]; also, cousin of Harry William Bowers [b1882], Albert Edward Bowers [b1895], William Charles Bowers [b1897] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893], and nephew of Walter Bowers [b1871], Charles Bowers [b1873], Thomas Bowers [b1875] and Samuel Bowers [b1880].  Home: Bridge Street, Alpheton, Suffolk (1891), living with Ephraim Ponder in Bridge Street, Long Melford (1901), living with Elizabeth Goshawk (Aunt) in Bridge Street, Long, Melford (1911), Orchard Cottage, Alpheton (1939).  Occupation: Horsekeeper on Farm (1901), Shepherd (1911), Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Service Record: In 1913 Bertie spent 18 months confined to the Suffolk County Lunatic Asylum in Ipswich.  No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Ipswich, Suffolk in 1961.

Bowers, Charles – Born: Alpheton, Suffolk in 1873.  Parents: William Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann [née Taylor].  Family Connections: Brother to Walter Bowers [b1871], Thomas Bowers [b1875] and Samuel Bowers [b1880], also, uncle of Harry William Bowers [b1882], Albert Edward Bowers [b1895], William Charles Bowers [b1897], Bertie Fred Bowers [b1891] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893], and brother-in-law of Samuel William Mansfield [b1875].  Home: Bridge Street, Long Melford (1881), Bridge Street, Alpheton, Suffolk (1891).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891).  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: in Long Melford and buried on 15.11.1898 in Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.

Bowers, Frederick Charles – Born: Monks Eleigh, Suffolk on 25.6.1880.[3]  Parents: William Bowers (Innkeeper) and Emma [née Keeble].  Family Connections: Brother to William Henry Bowers [b1888] and Sydney Arthur Bowers of Long Melford [b1890]; also, brother-in-law of Walter James Maggs [b1885].  Home: Brent Eleigh Road, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk (1881).  Occupation: Errand Boy [1898].  Service Record: Frederick enlisted in 1898 as a Boy Sailor N^o.188072 in the Royal Navy.  During his short career he served at sea on the following warships: the protected cruisers HMS Mersey and HMS Blenheim; and the pre-dreadnaught battleships HMS Barfleur and HMS Canopus.  Died: On 20.4.1905 from the effects of an anaesthetic during an operation at Haslar Military Hospital and was buried in Clayhall Naval Cemetery, Gosport, Hampshire.[4]

Bowers, Harry William – Born: Shimpling, Suffolk on 12.8.1882.[5]  Parents: John William Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Elizabeth [née Squirrell].  Family Connections: Brother to Albert Edward Bowers [b1895]; also, cousin of William Charles Bowers [b1897], Bertie Fred Bowers [b1891] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893], and nephew of Walter Bowers [b1871], Charles Bowers [b1873], Thomas Bowers [b1875], Samuel Bowers [b1880].  Home: Aveley Lane, Shimpling, Suffolk (1891, 1901), Bradfields, Pentlow, Essex (1911), Westgate Street, Long Melford [1917].  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901, 1911).  Married: Emma Matilda Rule in 1911.  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Buried in Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford on 14.3.1917.[6]

Bowers, Samuel – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.9.1880.[7]  Parents: William Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann [née Taylor].  Family Connections: Brother to Walter Bowers [b1871], Charles Bowers [b1873] and Thomas Bowers [b1875]; also, uncle of Harry William Bowers [b1882], Albert Edward Bowers [b1895], William Charles Bowers [b1897], Bertie Fred Bowers [b1891] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893], and brother-in-law of Samuel William Mansfield [b1875].  Home: Bridge Street, Long Melford (1881), Bridge Street, Alpheton, Suffolk (1891, 1901), Bridge Street, Long Melford (1911), Primrose Hill, Bridge Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1901), Farm Yardman (1911), Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Married: Annie Wilby in 1905.  Service Record: Samuel is recorded as a ‘Soldier’ [unit unknown] at the baptism of his son in May 1916.[8]  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1954.

Bowers, Samuel John – Born: Great Wratting, Suffolk on 12.3.1871.[9]  Parents: Elijah Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Susannah [née Barrett].  Home: The Hill, Great Wratting, Suffolk (1881, 1891), lodging with Fred Brooks (Farm Bailiff) at Dunton’s Farm, Bridge Street, Long Melford (1901), recorded as John Bowers at Lineage Cottage, Bridge Street, Long Melford (1911), Smaley Meadows, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Gamekeeper (1901 to 1911), Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Married: Emma Mills in 1903.  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1951.

Bowers, Sydney Arthur – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 30.3.1890.[10]  Parents: William Bowers (Innkeeper) and Emma [née Keeble].  Family Connections: Brother to Frederick Charles Bowers [b1880] and William Henry Bowers [b1888]; also, brother-in-law of Walter James Maggs [b1885].  Home: The Hare, 92 East Street, Sudbury (1891), 4 Maddison Terrace, Stanley Road, Sudbury (1901), 39 Oban Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (1911), 104 Sutton Road, Southend-on-Sea [1914], Arterial Road, Southend-on-Sea (1939).  Occupation: Carman (1901), Stonemason [1907], Fishmonger [1914], Shop Assistant (1939).  Married: Bertha Jane Pudney in 1913.  Service Record: Sydney enlisted in 1907 as Boy Sailor N^o. 365791 in the Royal Navy, discharged as unfit in 1909.[11]  Attested on 28.12.1914 as Pte.22641 with 23^rd [Service] Battalion, Manchester Regiment as an officer’s servant, and posted to France on 29.1.1916 as part of 104^th Brigade, 35^th Division.[12]  He was seriously injured in early July 1916 near Delville Wood when he received a gunshot wound to his right knee.  By 7.7.1916 he had been taken to N^o. 2 Stationery Hospital in Abbeville where his leg was amputated.  He was returned to England and treated at Tooting Hospital, being released six months later.  He was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 24.4.1917.[13]  Died: Rochford, Essex in 1949.

Bowers, Thomas – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 4.12.1875.[14]  Parents: William Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann [née Taylor].  Family Connections: Brother to Walter Bowers [b1871], Charles Bowers [b1873], and Samuel Bowers [b1880]; also, uncle of Harry William Bowers [b1882], Albert Edward Bowers [b1895], William Charles Bowers [b1897], Bertie Fred Bowers [b1891] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893], and brother-in-law of Samuel William Mansfield [b1875].  Home: Bridge Street, Long Melford (1881), Bridge Street, Alpheton, Suffolk (1891), Rowhedge Farm, Aveley Lane, Alpheton, Suffolk (1901) to [1916], Dales Cottages, Audley End, Suffolk (1939), Audley End Road, Lawshall, Suffolk [1950].  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891 to 1911), Stockman at Rowhedge Farm [1916], Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Service Record: At the Long Melford Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 Thomas’s employer Herbert Harvey of Rowhedge Farm applied for his exemption, which was granted on the condition his situation remained unchanged.[15]  It is not known if Thomas Bower’s certificate remained valid until the end of hostilities, however no definitive military record has been found which might suggest otherwise.  Died: Lawshall, Suffolk on 30.4.1950.[16]

Bowers, Walter – Born: Alpheton, Suffolk in 1872.  Parents: William Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary Ann [née Taylor].  Family Connections: Brother to Charles Bowers [b1873], Thomas Bowers [b1875] and Samuel Bowers [b1880]; also, uncle of Harry William Bowers [b1882], Albert Edward Bowers [b1895], William Charles Bowers [b1897], Bertie Fred Bowers [b1891] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893], and brother-in-law of Samuel William Mansfield [b1875].  Home: Bridge Street, Long Melford (1881), Bridge Street, Alpheton, Suffolk (1891), 7 Church Yard, Hackney, London [1897], 68 Rakere Street, St Lukes, Finsbury, London (1901).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1891), Tram Driver [1897], General Labourer (1901).  Married: Annie Elizabeth Galloway in 1897.  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Whitechapel, London in 1904.

Bowers, William Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 10.4.1897.[17]  Parents: William John Bowers (Agricultural Labourer) and Kezia [née Hart].  Family Connections: Cousin of Harry William Bowers [b1882], Albert Edward Bowers [b1895], Bertie Fred Bowers [b1891] and George Frederick Goshawk [b1893]; also, nephew of Walter Bowers [b1871], Charles Bowers [b1873], Thomas Bowers [b1875], Samuel Bowers [b1880], son-in-law of Frederick William Ambrose [b1876], and brother-in-law of Bertie Ernest Scrivener [b1891], Stanley Clifford Ambrose [b1899] and Kenneth Cecil Ambrose [b1917].  Home: Bridge Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 1 Council Houses, Aveley Lane, Alpheton, Suffolk (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Engine Driver at Rowhedge Farm [1916], Cowman (1939).  Married: Winifred Elsie Ambrose in 1931.  Service Record: At the Long Melford Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 William’s employer Herbert Harvey of Rowhedge Farm applied for his exemption, which was granted on the condition his situation remained unchanged.[18]  It is not known if William Bowers certificate remained valid until the end of hostilities as no definitive military record has been found.  However, it is possible that he served as Pte.50266 with 5^th [Service] Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, discharged on 10.4.1919.  The unit was posted to the Western Front in May 1915 as a Pioneer Battalion to the 12^th [Eastern] Division.  Died: Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk in 1977.

Bowers, William Henry – Born: Monks Eleigh, Suffolk on 1.5.1885.  Parents: William Bowers (Innkeeper) and Emma [née Keeble].  Family Connections: Brother to Frederick Charles Bowers [b1880] and Sydney Arthur Bowers of Long Melford [b1890]; also, brother-in-law of Walter James Maggs [b1885].   Home: The Hare, 92 East Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1891), 4 Maddison Terrace, Stanley Road, Sudbury (1901), Abbassia Military Barracks, Cairo, Egypt (1911).  Occupation: Father’s Help (1901), Soldier (1911).  Service Record: In 1911 William was serving with 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in Egypt.[19]  It is not known if he saw service during the First World War as no definitive military record has been found.  Died: Southend-on-Sea, Essex on 23.1.1916.

Related Biographies

Maggs, Walter James – Born: New Buckenham, Norfolk on 1.5.1885.  Parents: Walter Maggs (Harness Maker) and Alice Mary [née Keymer].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Frederick Charles Bowers [b1880] William Henry Bowers [b1888] and Sydney Arthur Bowers of Long Melford [b1890].  Home: King Street, New Buckenham, Norfolk (1891), 47 Christchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (1911), South Avenue, Southend-on-Sea [1917], 157 High Street, Rayleigh, Essex (1939), 49 Castle Road, Rayleigh [1971].  Occupation: Railway Clerk (1911), Hospital Orderly [1917], Waterworks Clerk (1939).  Married: Gertrude Mary Bowers in 1907.  Service Record: Walter voluntarily attested on 6.12.1915 and was placed on the Army Reserve.  He was mobilized on 14.4.1917 as Pte.110244 with the Royal Army Medical Corps and posted to N^o.3 Stationary Hospital at Rouen in Normandy until December 1917 when he was transferred to N^o.120 Sanitary Section for the duration of the War.[20]  Died: Rayleigh, Essex on 12.9.1971.[21]

Scrivener, Bertie Ernest – Born: Belchamp Walter, Essex on 12.3.1891.[22]  Parents: James Scrivener (Horseman on Farm) and Jane [née Stebbing].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of William Charles Bowers [b1897].  Home: North Waver, Belchamp Walter, Essex (1901 to 1911), School Road, Belchamp Walter [1918],[23] Hall Farm Cottages, Pentlow, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Cowman on Farm (1939).  Married: Rose Bowers of Long Melford in 1919.  Service Record: Bertie was conscripted as Gnr.21476 with the Royal Field Artillery.[24]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1974.

Notes – [1] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [2] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register for Melford Rural District. [3] Date of birth from his RN Record. [4] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/319/0072]. [5] Date of birth taken from the Baptism Record for 29.7.1883 of St Georges Church, Shimpling, Suffolk. [6] Burial Record see [Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Record Office ref: FL509/4/17]. [7] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 3.7.1881, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [8] For his son’s christening see Baptism Register 7.5.1916, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [9] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register for Long Melford. [10] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and confirmed by his RN Record. [11] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/558/365791]. [12] For details of 23^rd Manchester’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2484/5]. [13] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 272269], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372], all in the name of Arthur Sydney Bowers. [14] Date of birth from Baptism Register 28.10.1876, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [15] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 22.3.1916. [16] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [17] 1939 Register for Melford Rural District. [18] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 22.3.1916. [19] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363]. [20] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [21] National Probate Calendar. [22] 1939 Register. [23] Address from the Electoral Roll. [24] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].