Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Ernest Henry Trevor Nowers, born 1858 in Greenstreet, Teynham, Kent and his wife Minnie Elizabeth Nowers (nee Terry, married on the 15th March 1888 in the Parish Church, Lydd), born 4th May 1866 in Lydd, Kent. John Anthony was born on the 6th May 1889 in Little Bowden, Northamptonshire and was baptised on the 29th July 1889 in the Parish Church, Lydd, in April 1891 he was residing in the family home at 8, Elysium Terrace, Hester Street, Northampton, together with his father, a banker’s chief clerk and his maternal Aunts, Annie Louisa Terry, born 1869 and Isabel Terry, born 1873, the latter two Aunts were both born in Lydd. In March 1901 John was residing in the family home at Ermine Villas, 2, Empingham Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, together with his father, a banking company branch inspector, his mother and siblings, William Arthur, born 19th September 1890, Dorothy Mary, born 24th April 1892 and Geoffrey Pickering, born 30th May 1894, the latter three siblings were all born in Northampton. In April 1911 John was employed as a bank clerk and was residing in the family home at Tinwell House, Tinwell, Rutland, together with his father, an assistant general manager, his mother and siblings, William, a student, Dorothy, a schoolgirl and Geoffrey, a schoolboy, also residing in the family home was John’s, maternal Aunt, Annie Terry. John’s widowed mother latterly resided at The Hall, Billingborough, Lincolnshire and in 1939 she had moved to 15, Empingham Road, Stamford. John’s father died on the 6th December 1915 in Tinwell, Rutland, age 57 and his mother died on the 11th June 1952 in Ticehurst House, Ticehurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, age 85.
John was educated at Stamford Grammar School, Lincolnshire, and upon leaving became a clerk with Messrs. Barclay and Company, Bankers. He enlisted on the 6th September 1915, embarking on foreign service on the 4th May 1916. He fought in France and Belgium, including the Battle of Flers on the 15th September 1916 on which afternoon and evening he remained alone with two badly wounded officers, and afterwards assisted in carrying them back for which he received a Gallantry card, and was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He took part in the operations at Messines Ridge, where he was killed in action on the 7th June 1917. He had been wounded in the feet and was awaiting his turn for help and removal to a dressing station when he was killed by a shell. He was buried in St. Eloi. John was unmarried.
John’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers, being allotted the service number 19415, and was posted as a Private to the 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Banker’s Battalion – City of London Regiment) and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in 4th May 1916, at the time of his death he had been promoted to Acting Corporal. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 7 Jun-17 – IN THE LINE. The day of the attack on the 2nd Army front from OBSERVATORY WOOD to ST. YVES.
According to orders issued the Battalion was supposed to be in its assembly positions 2 hours before Zero (ie: 1:10am) but owing to considerable traffic in the Communication Trenches and on account of the traffic it was not until 2:35am that the Battalion was finally ready and the Companies all out in their -?- of -?- between our own front line trench and the support line. Although a bit tired the men were in splendid spirits. They had been trained up to the minute. Every officer and man knew exactly what was expected of him, knew exactly what the object was and were ready to gain it. After 6 long weary -?- months of waiting in the ST. ELOI sector, overlooked by the enemy, every movement and turn observed, all ranks were assembled with one thought – To get the Bosche out of it – All had complete confidence in our supporting artillery.
2:50am. At this hour the enemy having evidently spotted the Battalions in front assembling in NO MAN’S LAND began to send up his standard 2 signal (A rocket bursting out Golden Red Stars) and his artillery opened a barrage. Luckily however his artillery barrage was weak and it did not disorganise or worry the assembled men.
3:10am. Promptly to the second our artillery opened up and our lines of men went forward. About seconds after Zero the ST. ELOI mine went up with a huge blaze and a rocking of the ground. This seemed to startle the men for they seemed to turn left handed. Fortunately the check was only momentary and the men soon settled down and were over the top and following the 32nd ROYAL FUSILIERS who were in front in good order. The enemy defensive barrage came down on NO MAN’S LAND about 4 minutes after Zero but it only caught our rear waves and caused little damage. The attack went off exactly as per schedule. The 32nd ROYAL FUSILIERS took the enemy front and reserve trenches and at Zero plus 35 minutes the Battalion were ready to advance on their objectives the DAMMSTRASSE. This consists of a sunken road which was strongly fortified and which was supposed to be a bit of a stumbling block. The ground had been thoroughly prepared by our Artillery who maintained a heavy -?- barrage on the objective. The cooperation between Infantry and Artillery was excellent. The advance behind the creeping barrage was orderly and the men kept their distance and direction admirably.
4:11am. Prompt to time the barrage lifted off the DAMMSTRASSE and our men rushed in and captured it with very little resistance and before large numbers of the enemy who had been sheltering in strong concrete dug-outs were able to come out and fight. A large number of prisoners estimated at 300 to 400 were taken by the Battalion. Those of the enemy who did not choose to evacuate their strongholds were bombed out of it. The enemy, with the exception of one Machine Gun crew who had been knocked out, showed no inclination to fight. He was beaten and demoralised by the intensity of our Artillery fire and the suddenness of the attack. According to orders a line was immediately dug about 50 to 100 yards in front of the DAMMSTRASSE (BLUE LINE) as close up to our protective barrage as possible and the work of consolidation was carried on with all possible speed. Enemy artillery fire was ineffective. According to plan the 3 remaining Battalions of the Brigade came up behind us and formed up ready to advance on to the BLACK LINE which they did. All objectives allotted to the Brigade were taken at the scheduled time and were held.
3:10pm. Exactly 12 hours after Zero at 3:10pm the 24th Division who had come up across the ground in a magnificent way went through and carried on the advance and by about 5:00pm news was received that all objectives had been taken. Meanwhile large numbers of prisoners kept streaming back. In connection with this -?- the following documents map and papers are attached.
[1] Large scale -?- of our own front line system of trenches.
[2] Large scale map on enemy trenches opposite the Brigade sector, showing in colours the various stages of the attack and how it was carried out.
[3] Map showing barrage.
[4] Map showing destructive fire on men.