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Kelly L. Collard
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"BJ Ritchie" <John@ritchie-john.demon.co.uk> "Kelly L. Collard" <kcollard@zeuter.com> Wednesday, September 22, 2004 5:00 PM photo.jpg
Re: RHS - Rosseau Historical Society - request for picture of David Gower WWI for RHS's 2nd book due to be launched in early November 2004
Dear Kelly Here we go!
David Gower was born 23 Feb 1890 and baptised 25 Feb 1890 at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He was the 3rd son of David and Theresa Gower. He had 7 brothers and 1 sister. His mother died when David was 12 and his father, a butler, took him into "service" with him. David hated it and ran away to Canada where he married Sophia Jones and had 3 daughters - Agnes, Annie and Mabel. No one in England knew where he was until he returned to Bromsgrove to visit his family before embarking for France. He was killed in Ypres, W.Flanders in 1917. He sadly has no known grave and is commemorated by name on the Menin Gate Memorial (I have seen it). His name also appears on the memorial inside Hanbury Church, Worcestershire.
The attached photograph was taken circa 1903 and shows David seated with his father David and brother Fred (in uniform).

I am married to John Ritchie, son of Freda (nee Gower) a niece of David's.
Best regards