William Albert Flowers was the son of John Chester Flowers and Harriet Barret who were the farming family resident at Hob Farm, Castle Bromwich at the time of WW1.
John was born at the end of 1889 in Brackley, Northamptonshire at which time his father was working as a general labourer. By 1911 the family had moved to Hodge Hill and William was working as a farm labourer, whilst his father is recorded as being a cowman on a farm.
When I came across the Flowers Family grave, I instinctively felt that there was a story to be told about William’s death. I surmised, given the date, that there might be a connection to the Great War. I guess in a way I was right, but not in the way that I expected. William died not as a result of his war experiences, but the cause of his death would have impacted on his personal experience of the war. William’s story is not one of great and obvious heroism, it’s an example and reminder of Mary Anne Radmacher’s words: “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’.”
Sacred to the memory of WILLIAM ALBERT the beloved son of John and Harriet FLOWERS who died March 17th, 1919, aged 29 years.
On the first day of the war in 1914, British newspapers published appeals for young men to join the colours, and to fight against Germany. Following the advice of the new Secretary for War, Lord Kitchener, the government decided to raise a huge volunteer army.
Over the next few weeks, thousands of young men came forward. When the first grim news of casualties and of the retreat from Mons arrived in late August, more volunteered. One such volunteer was William Albert Flowers who signed the attestation papers on 7th September 1914.
We Know that William was sent to France and on a day in February 1916 was sent to get rations. Whilst out, he was hit in the right leg and back by three “bursting” shells. His injuries were serious and he was despatched to the 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff for treatment. Records show that he remained in the hospital for 90 days before being sent to convalescence hospital for a further 10 months from whence he was transferred to class w and desiginated a reservist. He appears to have taken no further role in the war.
Serious though William’s injuries were, his death certificate shows they were not the cause of his death, that he in fact died from multiple sarcomas a relatively rare form of cancer that develops in the bones and soft tissues and predominantly affects the young.
I admit to being profoundly affected and emotional after discovering William’s story. Not only was he severely injured by war, but his last few years of life were defined by his war experience even whilst he was unknowingly dying from cancer. William may not have been injured whilst carrying out a heroic act; he may not have died a hero’s death on the battle field, but his actions and participation in the theatre of war mark him as one of the quiet, unsung heroes of the time.
