No.98482, Private Charles BOWERS
Aged 37
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Charles Bowers was born in Stoke by Clare on 30th April 1882 (Risbridge Q2-1882 4A:575) Baptised in St John the Baptist, Stoke by Clare on 27th July 1890, son of
Henry and Hannah BOWERS (née BAREHAM ). His father was the son of Caroline BRUTY, who later married Charles BOWERS so it is possible he might be found using
the BRUTY surname, his father appears to have married as Charles Henry BRUTY. He was admitted to Stoke by Clare National/Voluntary School in April 1887 when living at Mill Green 1891 census...Aged 9, he was at Chapel Street, Stoke by Clare with his father Henry BOWERS [42] farm servant born Ashen, Essex; his mother Hannah [40]; brothers George [15] and James [13] both farm hands, brother Frederick [10 months]. All except his father were born in Stoke by Clare. 1901 census...Aged 19, a builder's carter, he was at Chapel Street, Stoke by Clare with his parents and brothers James (farm labourer) and Frederick. 1911 census...Aged 29, he was still in Chapel Street with his parents and brother James. There is no record of children surviving but his Army "Soldier's Effects" entry in 1922 give his father as deceased ( apparently in 1918) and only two brothers alive, James in Stoke by Clare and Frederick in the Royal Marines at Chatham. The fate of brother George is unknown. A Charles Bowers died aged 37 at 54 Chapel Street, Stoke by Care on 19th September 1919 from Phthisis (tuberculosis) (Risbridge Q3-1919 4A:962), (brother Frederick the informant and present at death) who may well be the man. The pension card has Hannah as his mother but the date of death is recorded as 9th September 1919. |
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He enlisted in Bury St Edmund on 17th January 1916 and was placed on Reserve. The medical form is missing, but he stated he was 34 years 9 months old, a builder's carter fromMobilised
Stoke by Clare, father Henry Bowers. Mobilised in Bury St Edmunds on 5th 1916, initially 35956, 7th Bn., Royal Fusiliers, he was transferred to the 13th
Labour Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment in 19th August 1916. His fitness classification of B1 probably being the reason for transfer to the Labour
Battalion, Then on 19th September 1916 he was posted to the BEF in France/Flanders. He managed to get a months leave at home in February 1917. Transferred to
to the Labour Corps, 165 Company, on 9th May 1917. Later that year he seems to have suffered illness or wounds as he was admitted to Bury St Edmunds Military
Hospital . The date of admission is not known but it is recorded that he was released to return to France on 29th December 1917. He remained in the BEF until 12th February 1919 and returned to UK for demobilisation on 13th March 1919. His records have an entry "Died after demob".His mother completed the Army "Living Relatives" form in 1922, stating that his father was dead, brother James was living with her at Chapel Street, Stoke by Clare and his brother Frederick was in the Royal Marines at Chatham. The cause of death on his death certificate does not indicate any Army service connection, and his Army documentation mentions no illnesses at the time of his demob, therefore he is not on the National Book of Remembrance by CWGC. Exactly where he now rests is currently unknown but is is assumed to be the Cemetery in Stoke by Clare.
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