Frank Burrows Flowers
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Surname Burrows later changed to Flowers (see 'Extra information'). Frank Burrows Flowers was the son of William an agricultural labourer and Elizabeth Flowers (née Mees). William Burrows (sic) was born in 1838 at Nottingham, and Elizabeth Mees was born in 1839 at Orston, Nottinghamshire. They were married in 1862 (reg. Bingham) and had four sons, two of whom had died by the time of the 1911 Census: William d. 1897 (reg. Derby), Robert (died before 1911), John Henry and Frank b. 1876, who were all born in Aslockton. The family lived in Aslockton where William snr. was employed as an agricultural labourer. By 1891 Frank (13) was the only child still living at home. His father died in 1913. Frank (Burrows Flowers) married Mary Elizabeth Dawn (b. 1875) at Derby St John in November 1899 and had four children: John Henry b. Derby 1900 bap. St John April 1900, Florrie b. Derby 1900 bap Mackworth All Saints 1901, William b. Aslockton 1905 and Thomas b. Aslockton 1908. The births were registered in the surname 'Flowers'. in 1900 when the eldest son John was baptised in Derby, Frank, a goods porter, and his wife were living on Great Northern Road. At the time of the 1901 Census Frank was lodging at Green Hill Farm, Coldwell Road, Sutton in Ashfield, while his wife and their two children were recorded at Rebecca Road, Derby. However, in August the same year when their daughter was baptised at Mackworth, the family was accommodated in the Derby Workhouse. By 1911, Frank, a farm labourer, Elizabeth and their four children were living at 7 Moor Lane, Bingham, Nottinghamshire. Frank completed the census using the surname Burrows for all the family. Frank's widow died on 11 December 1924 aged 50 and was buried in Bingham Cemetery. Her eldest son, John Henry, who died in 1984, was buried in the same grave. Two of Frank's sons, John Henry and Thomas, served in the Royal Navy. John Henry joined as a Boy 2nd Class (J. 48108) on 16 November 1915 and enlisted on a 12 year continuous engagement on his 18th birthday, 11 November 1917. His last day of service was 8 November 1925. Thomas joined in 1929 (J.109801 Dev.) and transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 14 April 1938 (Dev. B.16455).
Private Frank Burrows Flowers enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 23 January 1915 at Nottingham he was aged 37 years 9 months and 5 feet 7 inches tall. On 2 February 1915 he was posted to 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion in Sunderland. On 19 April 1915 he was discharged by the commanding officer 'not likely to become an efficient soldier under Para 392 (iii) (c) Kings regulations. The only medical issue he had was bad teeth but this was not picked upon enlistment. At some point in 1917 he was called up and was given the number 204637, being posted to 'D' Company, 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters. It is probable that Frank was captured during the German Spring Offensive, 1918. He was taken to Kassel and a POW camp. International Red Cross details: 'Frank Flowers, soldat, 1 Sherwood Forester Regiment, 42 Jahre Alt (years old), geb. zu. (born) Aslockton, prov (county) Nottinghamshire, Verst. (verstorben - died) 30.6.18 im Laz.d (Military hospital) Gef. Lag zu Gries- Heim (POW camp) Aktz.24460/W (reference).' Frank died of wounds on 30 June 1918 and was buried by the Germans in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hesse (grave ref. I.F.4). CWGC - History of Niederzwehren Cemetery (extract): The city of Kassel is about 165kms south of Hanover. 'The cemetery was begun by the Germans in 1915 for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. During the war almost 3,000 Allied soldiers and civilians, including French, Russian and Commonwealth, were buried there. In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen and in the following four years, more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse and Saxony.' (www.cwgc.org) John Morse
SURNAME. It is not clear where the Flowers surname came from. His original Attestation is completed as Frank Burrows and Flowers appears to be added separately. Also, his two sons Thomas and William are listed as Burrows on attestation. He appears as Burrows on 1881, 1901 and 1911 Census but as Flowers on 1891. On his Marriage Register entry he is listed as Frank Burrows Flowers. His brother John Henry is listed on the Birth Register as John Henry Flowers but appears on all Censuses as Burrows. CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace perfect peace' CWGC Additional information: 'Son of William and Mrs. Burrows Flowers, of Aslockton, Notts; husband of the late Mary Elizabeth Flowers (nee Dawn) [d. 1924].' Bingham Cemetery. Family grave and headstone, inscription: 'In loving memory of Pte Frank Burrows Flowers who died of wounds June 30th 1918 aged 41 years. Also of Mary Elizabeth wife of the above who passed peacefully away Dec. 11th 1924 aged 50 years. (-) And their son John Henry died 27 May 1984 aged 84 years.’ The Battalion's War Diary on Day of Capture: 28th March 1918 The battalion was holding the line east of HARBONNIERES. The Battalion withdrew and in order and took up a position west of ROSIERES. Throughout the day the enemy pushed on on both flanks and about 4.00pm the Battalion withdrew through CAIX and BEAUCOURT to MOREUIL. Then it marched into billets at JUMMEL. Frank's widow was awarded a pension of 25 shillings and 5 pence a week commencing 3 March 1919. Only two children were still classed as dependents, William (b. 1905) and Thomas (b. 1908). John Beech
