William Henry Mower

A Deck Hand with Drifter Will and Maggie (Lowestoft). William died on 3rd of November 1914 at the age of 23.

William was born at Carlton Colville in 1891, a son of Horace and Elizabeth Ann Mower. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville, on 25 October 1891. In 1901 his family lived at Morse's Cottages, Carlton Colville. In 1911 they lived at Crown Cottages, Carlton Colville, and William worked as a fisherman on a drifter. 

On 15 December 1912 William married Agnes Elizabeth Block at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville. William was a fisherman living at Carlton Colville and Agnes lived at Pakefield. Their home was at Olive Cottages, Beccles Road, Carlton Colville. 

William was a Deck Hand with 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 William; George and Wilfred Gower; 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. 

On 3 November 1914 the Will and Maggie was fishing about 17 miles off Lowestoft. A mine was brought up in the net and exploded, killing six of the crew. 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)