JOHN WILLIAM FLOWER 1885–1962

Royal engineers badge

Cousin of the six Flower brothers

Born 28th May 1885, Radcliffe on Trent

Baptised 18th December 1887 St Edmund’s Church, Holme Pierrepont

Married 7th December 1908 to Kate Carrington at Tithby; daughter Annie, born 6th July 1910

Died 28th February 1962

1891 Census

Age 5, living with father Sam 27, who is a general labourer, mother Martha, 27 (both born in Radcliffe on Trent) and sister Mary 4. They lived on Bailey Lane, Radcliffe on Trent.

1901 Census

Age 15 living with father Sam 37, a carpenter and mother Martha 37, sister Mary 14, an errand girl and a visitor Ada Bell, 17. They lived on Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent. He is employed as a bricklayer.

1911 Census

Age 25 living with wife Kate, 26, born in Cropwell Butler and daughter Annie, 8 months. They lived in a house with 5 rooms on Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent. He was employed as a bricklayer.

Military Service

Rank: Private

Service Number: 343686, previously 87692

Military Unit: Royal Engineers Inland Waterways and Docks, previously 3rd (Reserves) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

Theatre of War: Unconfirmed – it is likely that he served in the U.K.

Enlisted: 8 December 1915 at Newark

Age on enlistment: 30years 9months. Address: Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent. Occupation – bricklayer for railway. Height 5ft 7ins, girth 34ins, range of expansion 3ins. Next of kin: Kate Flower, wife

2.6.17:  Mobilised. Joined Sherwood Foresters Depot, Derby

5.6.17: Posted

12.3.18: Passed Trade test

Compulsory transferred on 15 March 1918

Rank: Sapper

Military Unit: Royal Engineers

Service Number: 343686

Passed trade test 12 March 1918

Certified that 87692 J W Flower of 3rd Battalion S F has been finally approved for the Inland Waterways and Docks Royal Engineers as a sapper, his Military Unital number is 87692 pending allotment of new RE number.

Date of transfer 15 March 1918. Service Number: 343686

Articles of clothing and necessaries in possession

Clothing         No Necessaries No
Boots, ankle, pairs 1 Badge cap 1
Caps, service, dress 1 Bag, kit 1
Drawers, pairs 2 Braces, pair 1
Greatcoat, DM 1 Brass, button 1
Jackets, service dress 1 Brush, brass 1
Putties, pair 1 Brush, clothes 1
Trousers, service dress pairs 1 Brush, polishing 1
Waistcoat, cardigan 1 Brush, shaving 1
Shirts, flannel 1 Brush, tooth 1
Socks, worsted, pairs 2 Comb, hair 1
    Fork 1
    Holdall 1
    Housewife 1
    Knife, table 1
    Laces, leather, spare pair 1
    Spoon 1
    Titles, metal pairs 1
    Towels, hand 1
    Razor 1

I certify that this statement is correct
Dated 24.12.18 Signature of soldier – Flower J W

Transferred to class ‘z’ army reserve on demobilisation 25 Jan 1919

No details available for medals. Unclear from records if he served overseas with the Royal Engineers.

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Roll

Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent.

1921 Census

Address: 2 Eastwood Road, Radcliffe

Employment: bricklayer Great Northern Railway

Household: wife Kate, daughter Annie

Other information

John W Flower’s pigeon was the recipient of  one of the 32 PDSA Dicken medals awarded during WWII.

DM17: Dutch Coast
Pigeon NURP.41. A.2164
Bred by J Flower, Radcliffe-on-Trent
Date of Award: March 1945
“For delivering an SOS from a ditched aircrew close to the enemy coast, covering 288 miles distance in 7½ hours, under unfavourable conditions, while serving with the RAF in April 1942.”

For more information www.rpra.org/pigeon-history/pigeons-in-war

1922 Electoral Register

Address: Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Household: wife Kate

1939 Register

Address: ‘Tallarook’ Golf Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Occupation: bricklayer heavy work

Air Raid Precautions rescue and demolition warden

Household:  living with wife Kate and daughter Annie, shop assistant grocery

Will John William Flower of 8 Golf Road, Radcliffe on Trent died 28 February 1962. Probate Nottingham 3 May 1962 to Annie Flower, spinster.

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Born and lived in Radcliffe on Trent.