Name
Edward Bence-Trower
16 March 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/05/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
South Wales Borderers
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
M C
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SOISSONS MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church, Processional Cross, Apsley End,
Draper's Company Memorial, London,
Charterhouse School Memorial, Godalming, Surrey,
Pre War
Edward Bence-Trower was born in South Kensington, London on 16 March 1891, one of 8 children, the son of Percy Trower and Agnes Bence, and baptised on 26 April 1891 at St Jude, South Kensington, London. They were then living at 11 Bolton Gardens and his father was a wine merchant.
On the 1901 Census Edward was a pupil at a school in St Davids College, Reigate, Surrey. His father died in 1908 and by 1911, his widowed mother and siblings were living at 10 Wetherby Gardens, Earls Court, London.
He attended Charterhouse school from1904 to 1909 where he was a member of the Football First XI 1908-1909.
After leaving school he joined the family business as a wine merchant.
Wartime Service
He served in France from 17 July 1915 with the 5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, initially as a 2nd Lieutenant, rising to Major.
He was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Military Cross. He was killed in action on 30 May 1918 at Romigny, near Rheims, during the Third Battle of the Aisne. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France.
A processional cross was donated to St Mary's Apsley End, Herts in his memory by Keith Runham.
Additional Information
Probate was granted to Richard Alexander Bence-Trower, Captain H M Army, in London on 6 August 1919, with effects of £11137 10s 9d.
Brother to Alfred Bence-Trower who served in the Scots Guards and died on 29 May 1918 and is buried in St Amand British Cemetery, France.
His estate received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £271 18s 9d.
His mother and brother Richard donated £25 4s 0d to the Charterhouse War Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
hemelatwar.org., earlscourtlocalhistory,
