JOHN WILLIAM FLOWER 1885–1962
Cousin of the six Flower brothers
Born 28th May 1885, Radcliffe on Trent
Baptised 18th December 1887 St Edmund’s Church, Holme Pierrepont
Married 7th December 1908 to Kate Carrington at Tithby; daughter Annie, born 6th July 1910
Died 28th February 1962
1891 Census
Age 5, living with father Sam 27, who is a general labourer, mother Martha, 27 (both born in Radcliffe on Trent) and sister Mary 4. They lived on Bailey Lane, Radcliffe on Trent.
1901 Census
Age 15 living with father Sam 37, a carpenter and mother Martha 37, sister Mary 14, an errand girl and a visitor Ada Bell, 17. They lived on Main Road, Radcliffe on Trent. He is employed as a bricklayer.
1911 Census
Age 25 living with wife Kate, 26, born in Cropwell Butler and daughter Annie, 8 months. They lived in a house with 5 rooms on Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent. He was employed as a bricklayer.
Military Service
Rank: Private
Service Number: 343686, previously 87692
Military Unit: Royal Engineers Inland Waterways and Docks, previously 3rd (Reserves) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
Theatre of War: Unconfirmed – it is likely that he served in the U.K.
Enlisted: 8 December 1915 at Newark
Age on enlistment: 30years 9months. Address: Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent. Occupation – bricklayer for railway. Height 5ft 7ins, girth 34ins, range of expansion 3ins. Next of kin: Kate Flower, wife
2.6.17: Mobilised. Joined Sherwood Foresters Depot, Derby
5.6.17: Posted
12.3.18: Passed Trade test
Compulsory transferred on 15 March 1918
Rank: Sapper
Military Unit: Royal Engineers
Service Number: 343686
Passed trade test 12 March 1918
Certified that 87692 J W Flower of 3rd Battalion S F has been finally approved for the Inland Waterways and Docks Royal Engineers as a sapper, his Military Unital number is 87692 pending allotment of new RE number.
Date of transfer 15 March 1918. Service Number: 343686
Articles of clothing and necessaries in possession
| Clothing | No | Necessaries | No |
| Boots, ankle, pairs | 1 | Badge cap | 1 |
| Caps, service, dress | 1 | Bag, kit | 1 |
| Drawers, pairs | 2 | Braces, pair | 1 |
| Greatcoat, DM | 1 | Brass, button | 1 |
| Jackets, service dress | 1 | Brush, brass | 1 |
| Putties, pair | 1 | Brush, clothes | 1 |
| Trousers, service dress pairs | 1 | Brush, polishing | 1 |
| Waistcoat, cardigan | 1 | Brush, shaving | 1 |
| Shirts, flannel | 1 | Brush, tooth | 1 |
| Socks, worsted, pairs | 2 | Comb, hair | 1 |
| Fork | 1 | ||
| Holdall | 1 | ||
| Housewife | 1 | ||
| Knife, table | 1 | ||
| Laces, leather, spare pair | 1 | ||
| Spoon | 1 | ||
| Titles, metal pairs | 1 | ||
| Towels, hand | 1 | ||
| Razor | 1 |
I certify that this statement is correct
Dated 24.12.18 Signature of soldier – Flower J W
Transferred to class ‘z’ army reserve on demobilisation 25 Jan 1919
No details available for medals. Unclear from records if he served overseas with the Royal Engineers.
Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Roll
Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent.
1921 Census
Address: 2 Eastwood Road, Radcliffe
Employment: bricklayer Great Northern Railway
Household: wife Kate, daughter Annie
Other information
John W Flower’s pigeon was the recipient of one of the 32 PDSA Dicken medals awarded during WWII.
DM17: Dutch Coast
Pigeon NURP.41. A.2164
Bred by J Flower, Radcliffe-on-Trent
Date of Award: March 1945
“For delivering an SOS from a ditched aircrew close to the enemy coast, covering 288 miles distance in 7½ hours, under unfavourable conditions, while serving with the RAF in April 1942.”
For more information www.rpra.org/pigeon-history/pigeons-in-war
1922 Electoral Register
Address: Eastwood Road, Radcliffe on Trent
Household: wife Kate
1939 Register
Address: ‘Tallarook’ Golf Road, Radcliffe on Trent
Occupation: bricklayer heavy work
Air Raid Precautions rescue and demolition warden
Household: living with wife Kate and daughter Annie, shop assistant grocery
Will John William Flower of 8 Golf Road, Radcliffe on Trent died 28 February 1962. Probate Nottingham 3 May 1962 to Annie Flower, spinster.
Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour
Born and lived in Radcliffe on Trent.