Private Herbert Blowers, (Methwold), 5th North Staffs, KiA 1918

The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday May 25, 1918 has this picture:-

 

The associated caption reads:- Pte. Herbert Blowers. Methwold, killed in action in France on the 17th April.

 

No obvious match on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, (CWGC), website or in Soldiers Died in the Great War, (SDGW).

 

SDGW does however have a Private Herbert James Blower who was Killed in Action on the 17th April 1918 whilst serving in France & Flanders with the 1/5 Battalion, Prince of Wales’s (North Staffordshire Regiment). He was born North Pickenham, Norfolk, resident Methwold, Norfolk and enlisted Norwich. Herbert was formerly 203688, Norfolk Regiment.

 

That soldier on CWGC is:-

 

Private BLOWER, HERBERT JAMES

Service Number:……………….. 42290

Died:…………………………… 17/04/1918

Unit:…………………………….1st/5th Bn.

…………………………………..North Staffordshire Regiment

Commemorated at PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

Location: Hainaut, Belgium

Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/874692/blower,-herber...

 

The Medal Index Card for Private 42290 Herbert J Blower, North Staffordshire Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/2/188871

He had previously been Private 203688 Norfolk Regiment.

Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1375004

He qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. There is no additional information on the card.

 

Some of his Service Records appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored. Although the edges of the pages are barely burned there seems to be a great deal of smut and fading, making the contents difficult to read.

 

The 29 year old Herbert James Blower, a married Small Holder living at Methwold, enlisted at Norwich on the 15th January 1916. Herbert had no previous military experience.

Having attested he wasn’t actually called up until the 2nd March 1917. He spent the intervening period in the Army Reserve – at home working but liable for recall.

 

At his initial medical he was recorded as 5 feet 3 and a half inches tall. He weighed 137lbs and had good vision. He had some kind of minor heath issue, (possibly something to do with Appendicitis) and so in March 1916 was found fit for Service rather than General Service.

 

His next of kin was his wife Eva Letitia. The couple had married at Methwold on the 6th August 1910. It looks like Evas’ surname was Manning and she was a spinster.

 

The couple have two children, Hilda Margaret, born Methwold 12th November 1910, and Olive Mary, born 16th December 1916.

 

He was originally attached to the 4th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment and given Service Number 203688.

 

He sailed from Folkestone on the 28th March 1918 and landed at Boulogne the same day. He marched into “L” I.B.D. later the same day with the intention that he join the 9th Norfolks. But before that could happen he was transferred to the 1st/5th Battalion North Staffs on the 31st March 1918 and renumbered 42290.

 

Post war as part of the process of issuing medals and paying War Gratuities for those who had died, the Amy sent out form W.5080 to the last know next of kin asking for details of surviving relatives. The layout of the form following the order of precedence of inheritance law as it stood at the time. Eva completed the form and had it witnessed by Isaac Ashworth, the Primitive Methodist Minister at Methwold on the 21st May 1920.

 

Widow of the Soldier: Eva Letitia Blower, High Street, Methwold.

 

Children of the Soldier: Hilda Margaret Blower, born November 12 1910

……………………….Olive Mary Blower, born December 16 1916

(both same address as Eva)

 

Father of the Soldier: None.

Mother of the Soldier: Mrs J. Grove, North Pickenham, Swaffham

 

Brother of the Soldier (Full Blood): None

Brother of the Soldier (Half Blood):

…………………..Reginald Grove, aged 27, North Pickenham, Swaffham

…………………..William Grove, aged 24, North Pickenham, Swaffham

 

Sister of the Soldier (Full Blood)

…………………..Mrs G Bly, Suffield W Aylsham

Sister of the Soldier (Half Blood): None

 

No match on Picture Norfolk, the County Image Archive.

 

No obvious Missing Persons enquiry received by the International Red Cross.

 

No obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.

 

He is remembered on the Methwold War Memorial in the Cemetery as Herbert J. Blowers. There is a second memorial inside the church which I’ve not been able to view yet to confirm how he is recorded there.

 

He is also remembered on the North Pickenham, Norfolk, Roll of Honour.

www.breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/n_pick.html

 

 

1887 – Birth and baptism………………..

 

The birth of a Herbert James Blower was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Swaffham District of Norfolk in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1887.

 

The baptism of a Herbert James Blower, born January 7th 1887, took place on the Swaffham Circuit of the Primitive Baptist Church on February 10th 1887. His mother was Caroline Blower, a widow. Mother and son lived at Sporle.

Source: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJTB-YH8

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

The 4 year old “Hubert” J. Blower, born Sporle with Palgrave, was recorded living in a dwelling on the ‘Road’, Sporle with Palgrave, Norfolk. This was the household of his widowed grand-father, William Palmer, (aged 61, an Agricultural Labourer, born North Pickenham, Norfolk). Living with him are his married daughter Caroline Garne, (aged 34, born North Pickenham) and her husband John Garne, (aged 40, an Agricultural Labourer, born Swaffham, (? – tbc)). William also has a grand-daughter living with him – the 12 year old Ellen Blower, born Sporle with Palgrave.

 

Going back to the 1881 Census the 24 year old Caroline Palmer was already a widow. She then had two children – the 4 year old Eliza A, born Weasenham All Saints, Norfolk, and the 2 year old Ellen M., born Sporle, Norfolk.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

It looks like either the census taker in 1891 was “having a mare” or he was being fed duff information.

 

On this census Herbert, his mother and stepfather were recorded with the surname Grove. They were living in a cottage at North Pickenham, Norfolk. Head of the household was John Grove, a 51 year old married Agricultural Labourer, born Swaffham. Living with him is his 44 year old wife, Caroline Grove, born North Pickenham.

 

Their children are shown as Herbert J. Grove, (14, Shepherds Page, born Pettygarde, Sporle), Reginald J Grove, (8, born North Pickenham), and Frederick W, Grove, (4, North Pickenham). Living with them is Carolines’ father, the 72 year old widower William Palmer. William, born North Pickenham, worked as a Bullock Tender.

 

6th August 1910 – Mariage…………………

 

Herbert James Blower married Eva Letitia Manning at Methwold on the 6th August 1910.

(Source – his Army Service Record).

 

The marriage of a Herbert J Blower to an Eva L Manning was recorded in the Thetford District of Norfolk in th July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1910.

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The 24 year old Herbert James Blower, a Farmer, was recorded as the married head of the household at Hythe Road, Methwold. He lives there with his wife of 1 year, Eva Letitia, born Gooderstone, Norfolk. The couple have had 1 child so far, the 5 month old Hilda Margaret, born Methwold.

 

His mother and step-father were still recorded living at North Pickenham. Head of the household was the 82 year old widower William Palmer, now an Old Age Pensioner. John Grove, (66) and Caroline Grove, (53). The couple have been married 20 years and have had 3 children of which two were then still alive.

 

Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers’ maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows only one instance of a child registered with the surname Blower mothers maiden name Manning. This was an Olivia M, registered in the Thetford District of Norfolk in Q1 of 1917.

 

 

On the day………………………..

 

In January 1918 the 1st/5th Battalion moved into the 59th (2nd Midland) Division and merged with the 2nd/5th Battalion. It was placed in the 176th Brigade.

 

After a long period of rest and training, the Division took over the front line at Bullecourt on 11 February 1918, with HQ being established at Behagnies. Much work was done of strengthening the line for defence against expected enemy attack.

The Battle of St Quentin (21-23 March) (only 177th Bde and the artillery were in action on 22-23 March)

After suffering heavy casualties from German shellfire on 21 March, the enemy infantry succeeded in breaking through the Division’s position where it met that of 6th Division in the valley of the River Hirondelle. Parties held on and continued to resist but were gradually destroyed and “mopped up”. Fewer than 100 men of the 176th and 178th Brigades which had been holding the front line before the attack were assembled at roll call. Two battalion commanding officers were killed in action. At 7pm, the Division was officially relieved but 177th Brigade and various parties of ancillary units remained to take part in the continued defence.

 

The Battle of Bapaume (24-25 March)

The next ten days were chaotic, as parties and individuals reassembled and the location of HQ meandered west, going via Bucquoy, Bouzincourt, Contay and Fienvillers to Villers-Chatel. On 1 April, the remnants of the Division moved by train to the Poperinge area in Flanders, leaving its artillery behind. New drafts of men arrived and on 5 April the Division took over the front line at Passchendaele, without having had any real opportunity to assimilate these drafts let alone train them.

 

The Battle of Bailleul (14-15 April)

On 13 April, the Division was ordered to reinforce the Lys area that was under terrific enemy attack. 177th Brigade was split off to reinforce 19th (Western) Division north of Neuve Eglise (Nieuwkerke), while the rest moved to Westouter. A 6000 yard long line (that is, very thinly held) was taken over near Loker and here in the middle of 14 April, the units came under violent attack.The enemy broke through on the left and the British line crumbled. Bailleul fell and 176th and 178th Brigades fell back in disarray on Mont Noir (Zwarteberg). Losses had been heavy.

www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions...

 

15th & 16th April 1918

 

(From a piece on another unit).

 

The 6th Battalion West Riding Regiment were relieved in the early morning, at 4am, by two companies of the 5th North Staffs. On relief, the battalion proceeded to the vicinity of a farm near St. Hans Cappel (map reference S1d, sheet 28) where breakfasts were served and the men cleaned their rifles and Lewis guns and rested.

 

At 6am orders were received that, in case of emergency, the battalion would hold a reserve line (not yet dug) just in front of the road in map reference S1d. From 1am, the battalion was placed in the 9th Corps reserve. At about 5pm it became very evident that it was necessary to dig the aforementioned reserve line with all speed as the enemy was reported to be attacking from Bailleul to Crucifix Corner (map reference S16b). Tools were got up and the line was dug and manned. The situation remained quiet. At about 7.45 am, our troops that had relieved us the previous night (and others) were seen withdrawing from south of Bailleul. Much confusion was caused by the bad state of their morale and to the fact that they crowded into our trenches and did not appear to have the slightest organisation. At about 11pm, orders were received to send all the 176th Brigade men back to Locre and, as soon as the line was cleared, work proceeded again. Patrols were pushed out with a view to gaining early news of the enemy’s presence.

Source: wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/alliedarmy-vie...

 

The First Battle of Kemmel Ridge (17-18 April)

On 26 April, Division was relieved. HQ moved to Vogelje Convent north of Poperinge and the troops were engaged in digging new defence lines.

www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions...

 

From “59th Division 1915-19” by Lt-Col E. U. Bradbridge

 

The book seems to consist of a number of articles by different authors, including this from a piece on the 176th Infantry Brigade by Colonel Sir T.G. Cope.

 

Page 23-24 “by April 11th we were again in the line, this time at Passchendaele, and were able to look over the ridge we had gazed at for so long the previous autumn. The next day, however, we were ordered to hand the line back to 122nd Brigade and return to Brandhoek, the Battalions getting in by 5 a.m. on the 13th. At 10 a.m. we started to march to Westoutre, coming under the orders of 49th Division. The Brigade arrived at 5.30 p.m., and at 8.30 p.m. got orders to march at once to Locre. I asked if we could arrange to arrive at 4.30 a.m. so that the men could have a few hours rest; this was agreed to. We arrived at Locre before dawn, and after various contradictory orders we were told to relieve the 147th, 101st and 74th Brigades, who were holding just south of Bailleul. The relief was complete by 7 a.m. on April 15th, 5th North being on right, 6th South in centre and 6th North on left on Mont de Lille. At 2 p.m. the Hun commenced heavy bombardment and at 4 p.m. his Infantry advanced, broke through beyond our left flank and turning due West marched across the Aerodrome and entered Bailleul. Meanwhile the 6th North, under Colonel Porter, had carried out a brilliant counter attack, recaptured the whole of the Mont de Lille, and established posts on the Bailleul-Armentieres Road. When darkness closed in, the curious position was that while the enemy were in Bailleul, the Battalions were on the far side. The famous Alpine Corps of the German Army had carried out their attack, and as soon as it was dark they pushed out patrols. The patrols put up Verey lights, fired their machine guns, and then rushed up in V-shaped formations, which had a disconcerting effect on the mixed units which were endeavouring to dig a fresh line, and by these means over a mile of ground was gained by the enemy. Eventually the Division telephoned through to say that a fresh line had been occupied by the 14th Brigade just South of St. Jans-Cappel, and that the 176th were to return to Locre. This was easier said than done, as by this time enemy patrols were well beyond Brigade Headquarters, and it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. Fortunately, I had two machine guns with me at my farm, and by a simple stratagem of firing two belts in the air the wind was put up the Bosche, and it kept him quiet while we got away. The 147th asked for a Battalion, so I left the 5th North and the T.M. Battery, who next day did a specially good work firing on a farm at which the enemy were concentrating preparatory to a fresh attack. April 19th found the Brigade at Jock Camp, International Corner.”

www.amazon.co.uk/59th-Division-1915-1918-U-Bradbridge/dp/...

 

Mildly photoshopped to minimise impact of damage present on the original image.

Done