Born: 5 July 1892, Bradford
Died: 9 October 1918
Buried: Tincourt New British Cemetery
Address: 2 Fletton Terrace, Eccleshill
Parents: William & Ellen, nee Mwson
Spouse: Lily, nee Jenkinson
Siblings: Three sisters
Occupation: Tramways dept
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Sgt
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park and St Luke’s
Children: William
Regiment: Yorkshire Regt
William Bower
William Bower was born on the 5th
July 1892 in Bradford, the son of
William Bower and Ellen, nee
Mawson.
He was baptised in Manningham on
the 31st July 1892. William had
three sisters, Maggie born 1893,
Doris born 1896 and Gladys born
1898.
By 1901 the family had moved to
26 Hatfield Road in the parish of St
Augustine and the father was
working as a hairdresser.
Unfortunately William snr died in
1902 at the age of 33 years and his
widow Ellen was left to raise her
four children.
In 1911 the family were living at 2
Fletton Terrace, Edith working as a
dressmaker, William in the spinning
wool business, Maggie in a twisting
woollen mill and Doris
in the spinning woollen
mill.
In September 1914
William enlisted in the
Prince of Wales Own
West Yorkshire
Regiment and at the
time of his enlistment he
was employed by the
Corporation Tramways
Department.
This regiment was formed in
September 1914 by the Lord
Mayor of Bradford becoming
known as the Bradford Pals.
On a home leave on the 3rd July
1915 William married at Bolton
Parish Church. He is shown as a
soldier, 23 years of age, living at 3
Park Place, Bolton.
The bride was Lily
Jenkinson, 19 years of age
of the same address. She
is shown as the daughter
of John Jenkinson
deceased. Their son
William was born in 1915.
William’s regiment moved
to Egypt in December
1915 arriving there on the
6th December before
being transferred to France
in March 1916 in readiness for the
big push on the Somme.
Between the 12th September and
the 12th October 1918 a series of
large scale offensive operations
were carried out by the British who
broke through a 20 mile portion of
the Hindenburg line between
Cambrai and the St Quentin canal
and these victories rank among the
greatest-ever British Military
achievement with very few
casualties.
William who had survived the
Somme and three years of fighting
was unlucky enough to be injured
and died of his wounds on the 9th
October 1918. At the time of his
death he was 26 years old and had
been promoted to Sgt. 16/1179.
William was buried at Tincourt
New British Cemetery.
His widow Lily received the sum of
£40. 12. 1d on the 8th April 1919,
and the War gratuity earned by
William of £25. 11. 0d
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks.
