Alwyne Bower
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Alwyne was the son of Enoch and Martha Bower (nee Shelton). Enoch (b. 1857, Eastwood) and Martha (b. abt 1858, Brinsley) were married in 1884. According to information on the 1911 Census they had nine children of whom eight were still living at the time of the census. Eight children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911; Annie B. b. 1886, Martha Constance (Constance) b. 1887, Emma Edith (Edith) b. 1889, Alice Ethel b. 1890, William (Willie) b. 1892, Alwyn/e b. 1893, Enoch b. 1897, and John b. 1898 (bap. September 1898, Elmton with Cresswell, Derbyshire). With the exception of John who was born in Cresswell, Derbyshire, the children were born in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. In 1891 Enoch, a coal miner, and Martha were living at 25 Princes(?) Street, Eastwood, with their four daughters; Annie (5), Martha Constance (3), Emma (2) and Alice (3 months). An entry on the 1901 census described Alice as 'lame from birth'. Also in the household was widower George Shelton, Enoch's father-in-law, and Harry Shelton (17, b. Brinsley) a coalminer who was described as a boarder but was probably Martha's brother. By 1901 the family was living in New Village, Creswell, in the parish of Elmton, Derbyshire. Enoch and Martha now had eight children; Annie (dressmaker's apprentice), Martha Constance, Edith, Alice, William (8), Alwyne (7), Enoch (4) and John (2). Enoch Bower died in 1906 aged 49 (reg. Mansfield). In 1911 his widow, Martha, was living in Leyton Villas, Mansfield with five of her children, Alice (dressmaker), Willie (clerk), Alwyne (apprentice fitter), Enoch (apprentice printer at Hempshire's printing works) and John. Martha Constance was a housekeeper in the household of a district nurse, Jane Elizabeth Shelton at Dill Hall Lane, Church, Lancashire. The 1912 Kelly’s Directory records Alice Ethel, a dressmaker, at Rosemary Street, Mansfield. Alwyne joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 9 January 1912. He married Nellie nee Rhodes (b. 1892) in 1916 and they lived at 66 Yorke Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire. His widow married Lewis Platts in 1920 (reg. Mansfield). She died aged 85 in 1977 (reg. Mansfield). Alwyne's brother William was killed on 14 July 1916 while serving with the Leicestershire Regiment (11313, Private). He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. The youngest brother, John, joined the Tank Corps on 11 August 1918 (310029 Private) at the age of 20, and was demobilized and transferred to Class Z Army Reserve in December 1919. He was a grocer before joining the army in 1918. At the time John joined the army he and his mother, Martha, were living at 27 Mansfield Road, Mansfield Woodhouse. (See 'Extra information). Martha Bower snr. died in 1939 aged 81 (reg. Mansfield).
Chatham Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry Alwyne joined the RMLI on 9 January 1912. He was serving in HMS Laurentic when the ship hit a mine off Lough Swilly, County Donegal, and 350 were lost. The ship was carrying gold bullion to America; the bullion was later recovered. Alwyne's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. HMS Laurentic is a ‘protected place’ under the 1986 Protection of Military Remains Act.
Mansfield Reporter & Sutton Times, 15 June 1917: ‘Mansfield Woodhouse Tribunal … The mother of John Bower, aged 18, grocer’s assistant, of 27, Mansfield-road, employed by the Mansfield Co-operative Society, asked for his exemption. The mother, who is a widow, stated in her application that her other four sons enlisted at the outbreak of the war. The eldest [William] was killed some time ago and she had now learned that another had been drowned [Alwyne]. The only other child at home besides this youngest son was a daughter [Alice] who was a cripple. Mr Cook described this as a hard case, and said he did not think this son should be sent. Bower was granted exemption until Sept. 1st.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 26 April 1918: ‘Mansfield Tribunal. At the outbreak of the war, three of the four sons of Mrs Bower, widow, of 7, Mansfield-road, joined the Forces, one had been killed, and one discharged, and another was serving in Egypt, and she now applied for the exemption of her 19 year-old son, John Bower, grocery’’s assistant, employed by the Star Supply Co., Shirebrook. The only other at home was a crippled daughter. In this case total exemption owas granted on the ground of domestic hardship.’.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: John joined the Tank Corps on 11 August 1918 (310029 Private) at the age of 20. He was demobilized and transferred to Class Z Army Reserve in December 1919 Probate: Barrell Emma Edith of 31 Skegby-lane Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire (wife of Arthur Ernest Barrell) died 4 September 1936 Administration (with Will) Nottingham 20 November to the said Arthur Ernest Barrell clerk in the civil service. Effects £139 16s. 5d.
