George Alfred Gower

A Skipper with the drifter 'Will and Maggie', George died on 3 November 1914 at the age of 39. 

George was born at Flixton, near Lowestoft, in 1875, a son of Isaac and Mary Ann Gower. In 1881 his family lived at Gisleham. By 1891 they were living at 83 Albert Road, Great Yarmouth, and George worked as a labourer.

On 28 December 1896 George married Elizabeth Abigail Mobbs at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville. They both lived at Carlton Colville and George was a fisherman. In 1901 they lived at 21 Victoria Road, Carlton Colville. 

In 1911, presumably while George was at sea, Elizabeth lodged at 73 High Street, Penzance. By 1914 they had a home at Beccles Road, Carlton Colville. 

George became the Skipper of the drifter 'Will and Maggie'. At 9 p.m. on 3 November 1914 the drifter was fishing about 17 miles off Lowestoft. A mine was brought up in the net and exploded. Six of the crew were killed including George, his son Wilfred; William Mower, Harry Flowers and Frank Newrick, all from Lowestoft area; and Frederick Steel, from Gorleston. Two other men, Edward Smith and Alfred Leverett, were injured. Two men, Albert Wright and Ernest Coe, survived and were not injured. At the inquest Wright and Coe stated that the mine was caught in the drifter's net and exploded when the net was being hauled in. They added that the drifter's small boat was damaged in the explosion: hence the men who were not killed in the explosion had to survive in the water until rescued.  The four survivors were picked up by the trawler Qui Saint and landed at Lowestoft. 

For further details see: World War One – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)