Samuel James Blowers

A Corporal with 2nd Battery, 13th Brigade. Samuel died on 3rd of May 1916 at the age of 31. 

Samuel was born at Gillingham, Suffolk, in 1884, a son of Robert and Maria Blowers. He was baptised at Gillingham on 3 July 1887 and his family lived at Banningham (he was baptised on the same day as his brother Dennis). In 1891 his family were living in a cottage at Gillingham. By 1901 his family were living at 16 Cambridge Road, and Samuel worked as a bricklayer. In 1911 his family were living at 5 Fir Terrace, Fir Lane, Oulton Broad, and later they lived at Normanston Hall Cottage, Beccles Road, Lowestoft.

Samuel enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft, some time before 1911, and joined the Royal Field Artillery. The 1911 Census shows him serving with 44 Battery in India. 

Samuel arrived in France on 14 October 1914 with 13 Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Samuel was serving with 2 Battery 13 Brigade when he drowned accidentally at Mesopotamia (Iraq).   

Samuel's brother Dennis was killed in action 1915 whilst serving with the Royal Field Artillery.