George Edward Gower

A Sergeant with the 7th Battalion, George died on 9th of August 1916 at the age of 26. 

George was born at Lowestoft on 16 August 1889, a son of William and Elizabeth Gower. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 5 November 1890 and his family lived at 7 Factory Street. In 1891 they lived at 11 Compass Street, and this was still their home in 1901. By 1907 they were living at 7 Jacobs Street.

George was a labourer working for Mr. Gooch, at Lowestoft, when he joined the P.W.O. Norfolk Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia), at Lowestoft, on 11 January 1907 and continued to serve until 25 April 1908. 

In 1908 George married Lily Susannah Elizabeth Butcher. By 1911 George’s father had died and he, and Lily, lived with his mother at 27 Chapel Street. Later his mother lived at 15 Chapel Street. After George’s death lily married Edward Cook and lived at 2 Cox's Buildings, Raglan Street.

George volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 9187, and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He was already a Lance Corporal when he arrived in France with the Battalion on 30 May 1915.

On 7 August 1916 the 7th Battalion took over trenches west of Pozieres, including Ration Trench. After repeated attacks the enemy took Ration Trench on 8 August. The next day the Battalion were given the task of attacking Ration Trench in an attempt to retake it from the enemy.