Herbert Bower

Private. SD/3889. 11th Battalion. Royal Sussex Regiment.

Born: 1880 in Golcar.

Occupation: Porter at Crosland Moor Work House.

Address: Upper Wellhouse in 1901.

Married to Annie around 1908 and father of 3 children, one of whom died before he enlisted.

Enlisted: June 1915.

Killed in action 21st October 1916. Aged 36.

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Pier 7. Face C.

He was a native of Wellhouse and well known in the district. He was employed for over 4 years as a porter at the Crosland Moor Workhouse where he lived in 1911 with his wife who was employed as a portress. Shortly after that he moved to take up a similar position at Worcester Workhouse. His wife Annie had been born in Upton on Seven.

Herbert served as a stretcher bearer through the South African War. (1899-1902.)

His wife received a letter at the end of November from 2nd Lieutenant G. Stanley under whom Herbert had been serving, informing her of his death, and adding that Bower had rendered excellent work in caring for scores of wounded, and he would be greatly missed.

He enlisted in June 1915 in the Army Cyclists Corps and was later placed in the stretcher bearer section, having had great experience in this branch through serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps throughout the South Africa War, coming back from that without mishap. Some weeks before his death, his regular letters ceased and when his wife made enquiries at the War Office, she was told he was missing. The recent letter confirmed her worst fears, and left her a widow with two young children.