George Alexander Blowers

A Private with 7th Bn. George died on 1st of July 1916 at the age of 19. 

George was born at Barnby in 1897, a son of George and Mary Blowers. In 1901 his family lived at Carlton Road, Pakefield. By 1911 they were living at 2 Carlton Terrace, Carlton Road, Pakefield. Later they lived at 3 Rochester Road, Lowestoft.

George enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in early September 1914. He was on one of a number of Lowestoft men who had volunteered to join the Army and who enlisted into 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The 7th Battalion was part of the 18th (Eastern) Division and was based in the Colchester area during the first few months of its formation. 

George went to France with the 7th Battalion, arriving there on 28 July 1915. By 1 July 1916 the 7th Battalion were in positions at Carnoy ready to take part in the Battle of the Somme. The Battalion's War Diary for 1 July 1916 has:

7.30 a.m. went over the parapet
7.35 a.m. German rifle and machine-gun fire heavy. Heavy hostile shelling of our front-line system.

The War Diary shows that at 12.30, despite heavy losses, elements of the Battalion were at, and holding, sections of Montauban Alley, the Pommiers Line, and No 2 Strong Point. The Battalion held their positions until relived on 4 July. 

George was killed in the attack.