Worcestershire Regiment

Mike,
As far as I am able to tell they were not related. No JOSEPH on the 1891 Census living at the same address as DAVID in Walsall.
The mother was a widow by 1901 ( as the father died in 1898)and David had enlisted in 1897.The 1911 Census gives no additional clues.
corona

Hi Mick and Corona,

I think you will find that Joseph (Jos) is on the 1891 census along with William, Emily (parents) David Henry, Mary, Arthur and Jane. By the 1901 census Emily is now widowed (but named as Emma) and only Joseph, Arthur and Jane are living with her.

Regards

Peter

Peter,
Well spotted .I missed that one!
corona

Thank you Peter and Corona,
For spending your time solving one more mystery. David Henry Blower definitely had a brother Joseph. Joseph is listed on the next of kin page on David’s service record. The age for Joseph Blower fits the bill, 35 in 1920. Joseph was 15 in 1901 census. I need to know where Pte. Joseph Blower 7275 was in 1911. I was hoping he was still in the Worcesters, then his age and place of birth would be stated. Which for me would dot the i’s and cross the t’s, if it said age 25/26/27 and born Walsall ! But I cant find him in 1911. He was NOT in the 2nd Bn.. David was in the 5th Special Reserve Bn. (If I read his service record right) .
Aside to this problem. I checked to see if C.S.M George Blower 8352 was related.
But he definitely is not. Blower was an ALIAS for him. All his full blood relatives were called Barnsley. George went over to France in Nov 1914 with the 1st Bn., direct from the heat of Egypt. Like many others in the Bn. he got hospitalised with FROSBITE. Served throughout the war. Then got killed in Sept 1918 at Pigeon Ravine, in one of the most futile losses of life on the Western Front. Makes very sad reading on pages 444 and 445 of Stackes Regimental history. A very brave man so nearly made it.
Regards Mike

Mike,
Here is a new piece of information ,that comes as some thing of a surprise ,in the Blower family saga! Make of it what you will.
The 1911 Census taken at the Gibraltar Barracks , Stanhope Lines, Aldershot,records the following:-
Pte. Joseph Blower, 413/-10 C Supply Co. Army Service Corps, Baker,Age 24 ,Born Walsall ,Staffs.
To date I have not found any other Joseph Blower who would fit the bill but I will keep looking.
corona.

Mike - 'saga' of course!
corona

Mike I apparently cannot use the word I want to, so how about 'story'!
corona

Morning Men,
Stand by your beds, stand easy.
I think we shall have to give up on this one lads ! The answer is out there somewhere but for an incidental how much time can we give it?
We know Pte. Joseph Blower 7275 enlisted on 23.10.1902. He was committed to the Worcesters until 23.10.1914.. As a state of war existed, that could (And probably was) extended by 12 months. Legally he could not have joined any other Regiment in that period. Also we know for sure he landed in France 11.8.1914., still with his original Regimental Number. So he must have either been a regular or at the very least on Reserve. To be in France that early he must have kept up all his commitments to the Worcesters. He was discharged with a Silver War Badge for wounds on 7.3.1916.
We just cant find him in the 1911 census. Now I cant find his mother or any other family member either. So **** it.
Regards Mike

Corona,

Sorted out the problem you had with using "saga".

Regards,

Louis (webmaster)

Hi Mick,

I don't think we are going to be able to say with any certainty that the two Blowers are brothers. The only information from 1911 census I have found for Joseph that could possibly be him is that he appears to be at Gibraltar barracks, Aldershot, Farnham, Surrey. C Supply Co. A. S. C. private. working as a baker. single b. abt. 1887. walsall, staffs (as per information from Corona). If 7275 is Davids brother then he would have been only about 16 when he enlisted.

Still never say never.

Regards

Peter

With reference to the board showing August 1914 embarkation,amendments have been made partly relating to my grandfather,and the Dean of Worcester Cathedral is
rededicating the memorial today at midday.My grandfather was 8572 Pte. Bendigo Victor Davies who embarked with D.Coy. 2nd. Bat.He came home having been wounded
on 2nd October,but went back on 1st April 1915 to join 6 Platoon,B Coy.3rd. Bat.He served with them until 9th July 1916 when he again was injured,and was treated at 25th
Army hospital Rouen.He went back to the front on the 30th August transfered to the 14th Bat.Royal Warwickshire Regt. and was very rapidly promoted as 30366 Sgt.B.V.
Davies.On 7-11-1917 he was Mentioned in Despatches,and two days later received a gunshot wound to his chest and abdomen which cost him his right lung and ended his
active army career.He died in 1969,and I still hold his Mons Star,War and Victory medals as well as his M in D certificate.
Getting his name onto the Cathedral memorial has taken me over 12 months during which time I have had to write to The Queen,the Archbishop of Canterbury,the Chief of
the Defence Staff, and the Secretary of State for Defence.The matter was eventually passed to Lt.Col. Richard Spiby of the Mercian museum of whose helpfullness I cannot
speak too highly.I believe that there are two other alterations to the memorial being done at the same time,both relating to 2nd. Battalion.

Hi homehound,
PTE BENDIGO VICTOR DAVIES had served earlier as 72272 5th Batt.Worcestershire Regt.(Mililia)
Enlisted 6/7/1904 but joined a Regular Worcesters Batt.22/8/1904. Militia Papers are on FIND MY PAST.
Regards,
corona

Hi corona
Thanks for the information,and I do have some paperwork from this period,my records show his service no. as 7272 during this period,but I
have no idea what he did or where he was during his 1904-1907 service.Any information would be a great help.With regard to my previous
post the rededication of the memorial was done very movingly by the Dean of the cathedral today.

houndhome,
If you found the information on your relation from his Service Papers on ANCESTRY then his Army career is recorded there in detail.
DEPOT 3/8/1904(Enlisted for 3 years with the colours and 9 on the Reserve)
1ST.BATT.1/10/1904
DEPOT 24?/4/1907
ARMY RESERVE 22/8/1907
1ST.BATT.1903 TO 1906 TEMPLEMORE IRELAND AND 1907 DUBLIN.
Regards ,
corona

Hi Houndhome,

It's very good news that at last you have been able to get the recognition that your Grandfather deserves with regards to the Worcester Cathedral Embarkation Rolls. Mike Jones is working hard to bring these rolls fully up to date and as accurate as possible and hopfully when his work is finished all those names that are missing and should be on the rolls together with any other errors will be put right. My own Grandfather served in 'D' Company and went over to France at the same time your Grandfather did (they may well have been pals).

Regards

Peter