Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Blower a scourer, born 1849 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Anne Blower (nee Holtham, married in the 1st quarter of 1870 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), born 1849 in Hinckley. Arthur was born in the 3rd quarter of 1888 in Hinckley, his siblings were, Samuel, born 1869, Charles, born 1872, William, born 1878, Ellen, born 1880, Alfred, born 1883, Evelyn, born 1886, Clara, born 1889 and Ernest, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, in April 1891 the family home was at 10, Grove Street, Hinckley. In March 1901 Arthur was residing in the family home at 10, Rugby Road, Grove Street, Hinckley, together with his father, a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, William, a brickyard clay worker, Alfred, a dyer’s labourer, Ellen, a hosiery trade machinist and Evelyn, a hosiery trade machinist, also residing with the family was his paternal widowed grandmother, Annie Blower, born 1809 in Hinckley. In April 1911 Arthur was absent from the family home at 16, Brick Kiln Street, Hinckley, residing there was his father, a general labourer, his mother and siblings, William, a labourer, his married sister, Ellen Wright, a hosiery trade worker and Evelyn, a hosiery trade worker, also residing in the family home were Arthur’s nieces and nephews, Florrie Blower, a hosiery trade worker, born 1895 and Arthur Blower, born 1905, the latter two relatives were born in Hinckley, Clara Wright, born 1908 and Alfred Wright, born 1910, the latter two relatives were both born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Arthur was employed as a hosiery trade trimmer and was residing at 20, Mill Hill Road, Hinckley, this being the family home of his brother Charles, a farm labourer and his wife Elizabeth Alice, born 1876 in Hinckley, and their children, Elizabeth, a hosiery trade worker, born 1897 and Kate, a schoolgirl, born 1900, both children were born in Hinckley. Arthur married Violet Harriett Hewer on the 2nd August 1914 in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
Arthur attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 10th December 1915 in Hinckley. He gave his present address as 70, Upper Bond Street, Hinckley, his age as 26 years and 133 days and his trade or calling as Hosiery Trimmer, his current employer being the Sketchley Dye Works. He confirmed that he had previously served with the territorial Force. He stated that he was married, and he gave his wife Violet Blower of 70, Upper Bond Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His wife latterly resided at 269, Stoney Stanton Road, Hinckley, and then 34, Coventry Road, Hinckley. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7¼ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37½ inches. After attestation on the 10/12/15 in Hinckley, Leicestershire he was transferred as Private, service number 33512 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 30/11/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 30/11/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 2/2/17. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 3/2/17. Arthur died in the 37th Casualty Clearing Station, France on the 9/10/17. Arthur was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Arthur’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 9 Oct-17 - IN THE FIELD. 2.00pm. Marched from SCOTTISH WOOD to OUDERDON and entrained for EBBLINGHEM arriving about 9.30pm., and were billeted in the BLARINGHEM area. The Transport moved by road.