Trafford

Born on the 6th April 1886, the birth being registered during the June
quarter 1886 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/909, the eldest son of Frederic
& Clara Jane Bower (nee Willshaw).

1891 Census - 1 Beech Villa, Stockport Road, Timperley.   Son - aged: 4 -
born:Manchester.    Head of household - Frederic Bower - Married - aged: 33
- occ: Buyer of Textiles (Export) - born: Manchester.   Also - Clare Jane
Bower - aged: 30 - born: Manchester.  Plus his younger sister, grand mother
and aunt.

1901 Census - "Southside", Stockport Road, Timperley.    Son - aged: 14 -
born: Manchester.   Head of household - Clara Jane Bower - Married - aged:
40 - born: Manchester.    Plus 2 younger siblings, an aunt and 1 domestic
servant.   No trace of his father, who was perhaps overseas in his export
business ?

He attended Manchester Grammar School     His father His was a partner in
the firm of Boylan, Platt & Bower and died in 1906, aged: 48.

1911 Census - "Southside", Stockport Road, Timperley.     Son - Unmarried -
aged: 24 - occL Mechanical Draughtsman - born: Manchester.    Head of
household - Clara Jane Bower - Widow - aged: 50 - born: Manchester.   Plus
2 younger siblings and an aunt.

Employed by - Messrs. Henry Simon Ltd, Mount St, Manchester.    A member of
the Timperley Hockey Club.

Enlisted in the Public Schools Bn in September 1914.     He was
commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on the 14th December 1916, Lieutenant in March
1917 and gazetted Captain in September 1917.     He had served at the front
for 27 months and had taken part in much of the heavy fighting.

MIC - Drafted to France on the 14th November 1915.

On the 15th February 1918, he was transferred from the 20th Battalion to
the 13 th Battailion when the 20th Battalion was disbanded.

From the 13th Battalion War Diary - At 01.00 hrs a message was received
from Brigade that the enemy intended to attack during the night to capture
high ground N.W. of Gheluvelt.  Companies warned and prepared.  Counter
preparation fired at dawn without reply.   At 06.30 hrs, hostile artillery
commenced shelling front an support trenches with 77 and 105 mm on both
sides of the menin Road.   The shelling became very fierce after 09.30 hrs
and continued with a short break between 13.00 and 13.30 hrs until 17.00
hrs.  Orders were sent to the reserve company to move up at 18.30 hrs from
Zillebeke.   At 17.45 hrs S.O.S. sent up by Battalion on the left,
artillery answered on whole sector within two minutes.  No attack develped
on Battalion front , but enemy shelling badly damaged No.3 Company.  
Message received from them at 18.30 hrs - "Please send as many stretcher
bearers as possible.  Only a few men left to carry on and no officers fit
to carry on.  Two officers killed and two wounded.  Please send
reinforcements as soon as possible.  A. Clarke, Sergeant in No.3 Company
sent forward immediately and the Platoons of No.4 Company in CLAPHAM
JUNCTION under 2nd Lieutenant H.J. Rowlands followed shortly.  The latter
was able to clear up the situation and reported to Battalion H.Q, that the
front line was intact, shortly after the arrival of Captain P.E. Lewis and
the remainder of No.4 Company.

Casualties sustained during the day - Killed A/Captain F.W. Bower, 2nd
Lieutenant W. Henderson and 7 Other Ranks.    Wounded - Captain T.H.
Whitehead MC, Lieutenant B.E.A. Marshall, 2nd Lieutenant M.H. Wilcock, 2nd
Lieutenant A.B. Blain (at duty), 2nd Lieutenant F.L. Kilham and 33 Other
Ranks.  During the evening information was received that the enemy had
succeeded in entering the trenches of the Battalion on the left - 13th
King's Royal Rifle Corps, but that they were being bombed out by the 10th
Royal Fusiliers.

I am grateful to Gary Fisher of Timperley Sports Club and the Members of
the Great War Forum who provided much of the information of his service.

His youngest brother had been wounded in February 1917 and was still in
hospital at Leeds.

Frederic's death was reported in the 22/03/1918 edition of the Alrtrincham
Guardian.

Frederic was buried near where he fell in what later became Tower Hamlets
Cemetery, but he was later reburied in Hooge Crater Cemetery.

M.I. - "Son of Frederick & Clara Jane Bower of Timperley, Cheshire".     
Awarded the BWM - 15 Star - Victory. 

Listed as Frederick (with a 'k') William Bower on the Manchester Grammar
School Memorial.   F.W. Bower on both the Christchurch, Timperley and
Timperley Sports Club WW1 Memorials.  Listed correctly as Frederic W. Bower
on the Altrincham and District Roll of Honour.