James Henry Gower

A Deck Hand with Steam Trawler Derwent (Boston), James died on 26th of January 1920 at the age of 17. 

James was born at Lowestoft on 2 October 1903, a son of James Henry and Eva Mary Gower. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 10 April 1904, and his family lived at 26 Rotterdam Road. The 1911 Census shows James with his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Ellen Wilson, at Pyrancha Cottage, Commodore Road, Oulton Broad. Later his family lived at 68 Carlton Road, Kirkley.

In 1920 James worked on the Grimsby registered trawler Derwent, GY 525. The trawler was reported missing on 26 January 1920 and is thought to have struck a mine. The vessel was lost with all ten crew.