No. 114903, Driver, Reginald William BOWERS
Aged 23
|
Reginald William Bowers was born in Carlton on 27th August 1893 (Linton Q4:1893 3B:499), baptised 22nd October 1893 in Carlton, the son of John and Jessie
BOWERS (née CARTER).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at The Street, Carlton with his father John BOWERS [37] a cattleman on farm, born Horseheath; his mother Jessie [35] born Great Thurlow and brother Albert C.[5] born Carlton. 1911 census...Aged 17, a farm labourer, he was at 3 Hall Cottages, Carlton with his parents and brother Albert Charles (houseboy), sister Florence Louie GRAINGER [24] born Horseheath and her husband William GRAINGER [23] a domestic groom, born Brinkley and their son Ronald Bowers GRAINGER [1] born Great Thurlow. One sibling had died. It is not known why Reginald Bowers is on the memorial in Brinkley and not in Carlton. Possibly the family moved to Brinkley before the end of the war yet the pension card has them in Dullingham. |
|
Enlisted in Cambridge. The battle of Arras in early 1917 was a bloody affair. After initial success, the offensive once more became one of attrition and with the failure to capture the Hohenzollern Redoubt, great losses were sustained. It is reported that over 100,000 British casualties were sustained during the offensive in April - May 1917, the daily rate exceeding that of the Battle of the Somme in many instances. With Reginald being a gunner, it is hardly likely in the absence of his Army records that where he fell will ever be identified. He is one of eight gunners of the 53rd battery to die that day and be buried in Philosophe Cemetery. |
photo: Rodney Gibson photo: Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details