Henry John Blowers

A Deck Hand with H.M. Trawler Tettenhall, Henry John died on 23rd of May 1917 at the age of 49. 

Henry was born at Heigham, Norwich on 3 December 1867, a son of Benjamin and Maria Blowers. In 1871 his family lived at 5 Laundry Lane, Lowestoft, and in 1881 their address was 75 Laundry Road, Lowestoft. 

On 25 December 1890 Henry married Alice Edith Stout at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley. Both Henry and Alice lived at Kirkley and Henry was working as a fisherman. In 1891 they lived with Alice's parents at 78 Lorne Park Road. By 1901 they were living at 7 Mariner's Street, Lowestoft, and in 1911 at 16 Kirkley Street. Subsequently Alice lived at 71 Morton Road, Lowestoft. 

Henry joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 July 1915. Henry was killed when the Tettenhall was sunk by a mine off Lowestoft. Six of the crew, including Henry, were killed. 

Details of Henry's funeral were reported in the Lowestoft Journal, 2 June 1917, page 3:

A NAVAL FUNERAL

On Tuesday afternoon [May 29] another double naval funeral took place at Kirkley Cemetery, Mr. S. C. Rowe (Missioner at the Sailors and Fishermen’s Bethel) officiating. The deceased were accorded naval honours. The service was an impressive one, and was witnessed by a considerable concourse. The deceased men were George Edward Gladwell, aged 25, late of 63 Carlton Road, Kirkley, married, with one child, and Henry J. Blowers, of Morton Road, aged 50, married with family, two or three of whom are with the Forces. The “Last Post” was sounded at the conclusion of the service, and there were several handsome floral tributes. The coffins were conveyed on gun carriages. Mr. Horace Riches, Raglan Street, was the undertaker.

Henry's son Frank died in 1917 whilst serving with the Suffolk Regiment.