WILLIAM FREDERICK BLOWERS
Born: 1892, Ipswich.
Died: 26th May 1915; age 23; KiA.
Residence: 44, Waveney Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 16th September 1914.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 4164
Regiment: 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers), Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the Line.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Clasp – issued 1914.
Grave Reference:
Enclosure No. 2. IV.A.66.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Mr. & Mrs. Blowers, of 44, Waveney Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 90, Waveney Road, Ipswich.
William was 8 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Josiah William Blowers, 33, a Bricklayer, born Crowfield, Suffolk.
Florence Blowers (nee Haddock), 32, born Ipswich.
Violet Mabel Ellen Blowers, 12, born Ipswich.
Percy Josiah Blowers, 5, born Ipswich.
James Blowers, 3, born Ipswich.
Bessie Florence May Blowers, 1, born Ipswich.
1911 Mauritius & South Africa.
William was 20 years old, a Soldier ranked Private in the 6th Dragoon Guards.
Williams is also remembered on the war memorial at Springfield School, Ipswich.
Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 2nd April 1915 – IPSWICH TANNERY ACCIDENT – SUFFOCATED BY APRON STRING – The circumstances concerning the death of James Blowers, aged 17, a labourer, who was killed at the Bramford Road Tannery, were inquired into by the Ipswich Borough Coroner and a jury at the Smart Street Schools last week. Mr. J. M. Martin represented the deceased’s employers, Messrs. W. and A.J. Turner, and H.M. Inspector of Factories for the district, Mr. W. K. Beard, was also present.
At the outset Mr. Martin said James Blowers was an excellent worker, and his employers very much regretted his death.
The Coroner explained that James Blowers was drawn into a machine called an offal stricker, and he was suffocated by his apron string getting drawn tight around his neck.
Mrs. Florence Blowers, wife of Josiah Blowers, a bricklayer, of 44, Waveney Road, Ipswich, said the deceased was her son. He was slightly lame in the right leg.
Ernest Appleby, a labourer, of 34, Dillwyn Street West, Ipswich, deposed that at 11:5 a.m. on Thursday, he found James Blowers twisted round the shafting of the machine at the back. His head was drawn up by the shafting, and his apron string was tight round his neck. The machine was standing still, and the deceased was dead. The belt was off the machine. Ernest cut him down. It was a sack apron deceased was wearing. Artificial respiration was resorted to. Ernest could not say what James Blowers was doing at the spot; the oil can was not near it. James worked the machine, which was for cleaning leather. The oiling took place two or three times a day. It could not be oiled when in motion.
Noah George Walker, works foreman, deposed that James Blowers had been in the employ of the firm about six months. The work with the machine was for setting out or smoothing the grain of the leather, and was quite easy. Some leather was found in the machine, which made 50 to 60 revolutions a minute. It would be dangerous to go to this spot when the machine was working, and the deceased had no occasion to go there.
Dr. E. J. R. Bartlett said there was a mark around the deceased’s neck, depressing the windpipe, due to the cord of the apron being drawn tightly. This caused suffocation.
The Jury returned a verdict “That death was due to suffocation. The result of an accident, no blame attaching to anyone.”
6th Dragoon Guards: http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/cavalry-regiments/the-dragoon-guards/
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