No. 26364, Private, Frederick James Watson BOWERS
Aged 30
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Frederick James Watson BOWERS was born in Burwell in 1887 (Newmarket Q2-1887 3B:535), son of Sarah Ann BOWERS. His mother married James Watson in Q2-1887
1891 census... Aged 4, he was Frederick WATSON, at North Street, Burwell with his father James WATSON (Junr) [24] farm labourer born Swaffham Prior; his mother Sarah A. [24] and brothers Horace [2] and Leonard L [3 months]. All except his father were born in Burwell. 1901 census...Aged 14, Frederick WATSON was at North Street, Burwell with his parents, brothers Leonard L and Horace D [3] and sisters Daisy [8], Violet [6] and Ivy S [1]. All the children were born in Burwell. The first Horace had died in 1891. He married Florence CANHAM (b.5-8-1887) on August 1st 1910 at A St. Mary's, Burwell, (Newmarket Q3-1910 3B:1171). 1911 census...Aged 24, Frederick James Watson, engine driver on tug boat, was at Backway, Burwell with his wife Florence [23] born Fordham. They later moved to Stathern, Leicestershire. Their first son Frederick George Watson BOWERS was born in Burwell 20th June 1911 and 2nd son Horace Watson was born 22nd July 1915 in Stathern, where they still were on the pension card. |
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He enlisted as Frederick BOWERS in Melton Mowbray while resident in Stathern,Leicestershire.
Attested on 13th March 1916, giving his age as 28 years 280 days, an ironstone worker from Stathern, Leicestershire. he was 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm)tall, weighed 129 lbs (58.7 kg) chest 36" to 38" (91.4 to 96.5 cm). He was transferred around various battalions and then arrived in Calais (via Folkestone) on 5th August 1916 joining 7th Battalion in the field on 25th August. He received a gunshot wound to the back on 30th September, admitted to 15 C.C.P on 1st October and 38 C.C.S. on 13th October and No. 1 Canadian General Hospital on 14th before being evacuated to UK on 17th October. Here his documents become very faint, but it seems he returned to the BEF via Folkestone on 23rd January 1917, joining 11th Battalion in the field on 17th February followed by moves around several battalions. He appears to have ended up in the 8th Battalion on 26th October 1917. Posted missing, his death was officially presumed on 22nd March 1918 , the 2nd day of the German Spring Offensive. Together with their 6th and 7th Battalions they were holding Epehy. Thanks to German gas blowing back on their own troops, a British counter barrage and fog, the enemy did not make as much progress here as elsewhere that day. Even so the three battalions lost 131 men between them, the 8th Battalion having 39 killed on 22nd March.
photo: Roy Beardsworth click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
