Flower, Eric Morley

No.25398 – Gunner Eric Morley Flower – 7^th Field Artillery Brigade

Eric Morley Flower was born in Ashburton New Zealand in 1890 to Henry and Ellen Flower. The family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Lukin Road North Fremantle. Eric was educated in the local state school and after leaving school took up work as a clerk for the WA Government Railways while he studied to become an accountant. By 1913 he was living in Broome trying his hand in the pearling industry. Eric was working as an accountant when he enlisted in the AIF in 1916.

On the 6^th February 1916 Eric went to the Perth Drill Hall to enlist in the AIF. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 11 inches tall; weight of 143 lbs; chest measurement of 34-37 inches; light brown complexion; blue eyes and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Eric was assigned to the Artillery reinforcements and after a short time in WA they were sent across to Victoria to undergo further specialist training. After a few months in Victoria in the Artillery details camp Eric was assigned into the 3^rd Australian Division Ammunition Column. This group embarked from Melbourne on the 27^th June 1916 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Barambah” and made their way to England. The long sea voyage ended on the 25^th August 1916 when they arrived in Plymouth Harbour.

Eric then trained with the 3^rd Division Ammunition Column on the Salisbury Plains. They trained for three months in this location and the men were given periods of leave during this time so they could see the sights of England. On the 24^th November 1916, Eric departed England with his unit and after arriving in France was sent to the region around Armentieres. Shortly after arriving in France Eric was sent to hospital ill and it was soon diagnosed that he was suffering from VD. He was sent back to the 51^st General Hospital at Etaples on the 3^rd December and remained here until the 8^th February 1917. He was discharged and sent back to the Base Depot in Etaples. He stayed here for over a month and only rejoined the 3^rd DAC on the 12^th April 1917.

On the 29^th May Eric was attached to the 3^rd Division Train as a Loader but was back with the unit within two days. The 3^rd Division were then about to undertake their assault on Messines. This attack took place on June 7^th 1917 and was quite successful. Eric’s role would have been to keep the 3^rd Division’s artillery supplied with their shells. On the 5^th August 1917 he was transferred into the 7^th Field Artillery Brigade and two days later reported sick, though he would only spend a week in hospital before returning to the 7^th Field Artillery Brigade.

The Australian Artillery was taking part in the bombardment of the German Positions during the Third Battle of Ypres. Much of the country the Australian artillery was located in was overlooked by the Germans and so the Australian positions were often struck by German shells. On the 28^th September 1917 Eric was severely wounded by a German shell with shrapnel striking him in the abdomen and thigh. He was taken back to the 3^rd Field Ambulance and then the 17^th Casualty Clearing Station where he unfortunately died of wounds on the 29^th September 1917. The 7^th FAB History mention’s Eric’s wounding.

“During the day orders came through for the battery to pull out that night, the guns to be taken over by the New Zealanders at the wagon lines. Half an hour before the teams arrived at the position to pull the guns out a particularly unfortunate tragedy occurred. Three gunners were in the act of dumping their kits at the side of the plank road, preparatory to leaving for the wagon lines, when at the same moment a 5.9 burst practically on top of them, killing Gunner J.W. Gale on the spot, and wounding Gunner E.M. Flower so seriously that he died the following day…It was a most unfortunate occurrence, as after safely getting through days of nothing but bursting shells…a man was particularly unlucky to be struck down at the last moment, and the incident caused a deep contrast to the pleasure evinced by everybody at getting clear away from such an unwelcome position”

Eric was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in plot XXV.6A