John Thomas Flower

An Air Mechanic 3rd Class with the Reserve Depot, John died on 25th of May 1918 at the age of 35. 

John was born at Lowestoft on 11 August 1882, a son of John Matthias and Mary Ann Flower. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 1 September 1882. In 1891 his family lived at 7 Southwell Road and by 1901 at 32 Southwell Road and John was a house painter. 

John married Ellen Sophia Marjoram at Leiston on 11 September 1904. In 1911 they lived at Flora House, Lowestoft Road, Southwold, and later at 24 Southwell Road. Subsequently Ellen lived at 133 Clapham Road. In 1920 Ellen married Frederick Newruck.

John was working as a coach painter when he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 13 October 1915, service number 9802. His Flying Corps trade was lorry driver. John embarked for France on 5 December 1915, and he joined 3 Aircraft Park and, from 17 June 1917, he served with 5 Aircraft Park. John returned to England on 9 December 1917. On 1 April 1918, with the formation of the Royal Air Force, he became as Air Mechanic 3rd Class and the Register of Soldiers’ Effects states that he served with the Reserve Depot. John was involved in an accident and suffered a severe contusion to his abdomen which resulted in his death at Shorncliffe Military Hospital. 

A report in the Folkestone Herald, 1 June 1918, page 8, gives details of what happened to John:

FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT

On Tuesday Mr. Rutley Mowll, East Kent Coroner, held an inquest respecting the death of Air Mechanic John Thomas Flower, aged 36, who died in hospital on Saturday afternoon. Mr. A. H. Couchman was the foreman.  

It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was in charge of a motor lorry carrying material from a railway station. When endeavouring to get alongside the railway track the engine of the lorry stopped, and he jumped down in order to re-start it. As he did so the lorry suddenly moved forward, and pinned the unfortunate man between it and the railway truck. A companion who had left to fetch some water for the radiator found on his return that the first-speed lever was still in gear, the throttle left open, and the spark fully advanced. The deceased had evidently forgotten to alter the levers when he got off his seat, and the engine being hot, half a turn of the starting handle would be sufficient to restart it. The cause of death was haemorrhage of the abdomen. A verdict of “Death from misadventure” was returned. 

Note: Commonwealth War Graves records give John’s rank as Air Mechanic 2nd Class and his unit as the recruits Depot. According to his Royal Air Force service record and the Register of Soldiers’ Effects these pieces of information are incorrect.