Harry Flowers

A Fisherman with Drifter Will and Maggie (Lowestoft), Harry died on 3rd of November 1914 at the age of 48.

Harry was born at Kirkley in 1866, a son of William and Emily Flowers. In 1871 his family lived at 5 The Street, Kirkley. By 1881 they were living at Carlton Colville.  

On 4 September 1891 Harry married Sophia Rebecca Pitcher at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville. Harry was working as a fisherman and they both lived at Carlton Colville. In 1901 they lived at 42 Saint Leonard's Road, Kirkley and by 1911 at 5 Carlton Terrace, Carlton Road, Pakefield. Later Sophia lived at 84 Morton Road, Lowestoft.

Harry was a fisherman 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 Harry; George and Wilfred Gower; William Mower, 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)