Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | St. Amand British Cemetery | III. C. 8. | |
| 2. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 25D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Alfred Bence-Trower was born on 10 August 1880 at Hyde Park Gardens, London, England. He was the son of Percy Trower and Agnes Marian Bence.He died on 29 May 1918 at age 37.
Agnes Marian Bence was born in Scotland in 1852.
She married Percy Trower (1846-1908) at St James', Piccadilly, on 6 July 1876. They lost two sons in the First World War on successive days: The first was Alfred, their middle child of seven. Edward would be killed the following day.
Percy Trower was a initiated into Victoria Rifles Lodge No 822 along with his brother Alfred. Alfred died as Senior Warden fire days after being appointed by his newly installed brother Percy. Alfred Bence Trower was born six months after Alfred's passing and named after him.
Education & Career :
Educated at Charterhouse, Alfred joined his father in business as a wine merchant.
He was a member of the MCC.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 1/Scots Guards |
1st Battalion August 1914 : in Aldershot. Part of 1st (Guards) Brigade, 1st Division. 25 August 1915 : transferred to 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division |
| Action : The First Battles of the Somme 1918 and associated actions |
21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.
Detail :
He is buried in St Amand British Cemetery, Somme, France.
He is also commemorated in Thorington Parish Church, Suffolk, where his original battlefield cross is on display.
He appears on the MCC Role of Honour at Lords. The Masonic Rollof Honour 1921 lists his name in error as Alfred Bence TROWER.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | St. Peter, Westminster No. 1537 E.C. | Unknown |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
16th February 1914 | 16th March 1914 | 20th April 1914 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley