Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
William Cyril Gover was one of 8 children, offspring of John Cockram Gover and Mary Jane Maxwell.
John Cockram Gover was born in 1843 in the town of Crediton, near Exeter, Devon. He was the son of tin plate maker, Samuel Gover and his wife Mary Ann. At the age of 17 John was living as a lodger at 9, Alma Terrace, Chester, serving an apprenticeship as a currier in the leather industry. Fully qualified, ten years later he was a boarder at 3, Southville Place, in the district of Bedminster, Bristol, Somerset. Between 1871 and when he was married to Mary Jane Maxwell in 1876, he had moved to Newcastle upon Tyne. Mary Jane was a native of Newcastle upon Tyne, born in 1849, the daughter of butter and bacon factor/merchant, John Maxwell and his wife Ann, both of whom originated from Cumberland.
John Maxwell Gover was born, February 23rd 1877, Samuel Leslie Liddell Gover 1878, Alfred Ernest 1879, and William Cyril in 1881 whilst they were living at 205, Portland Road, Newcastle. John was supporting his family as a leather merchant, to assist his wife and children he employed a domestic servant and a nurse. Their eldest son John Maxwell was living with his widowed maternal grandmother, Ann Maxwell, at 3, Windsor Crescent, Jesmond.
Over the next 10 years they had a further 4 children, daughter Annie Maxwell 1882, Florence Mary 1883, Constance Buttress 1886 and a son Charles Norman 1890. Ten years later they had left the city for the quieter suburb of Jesmond and occupied Priorsdale, Fernwood Road, but transferred to Springfield, Coxlodge, Gosforth by 1901.
Samuel (22) was employed as a merchant’s clerk, as were his younger brothers Alfred (21) and William (20), their sisters Anne (18) and Constance, as yet unmarried, were still living at home Charles (10) although of school age is not listed as a scholar. The house was run with the help of a cook, a housemaid and a nursemaid. John Maxwell, who had studied in Edinburgh and qualified as a Bachelor of Medicine was an assistant medical practitioner in Alnwick. Alfred Ernest Gover died in 1908, aged 28 years.
William Cyril Gover (30) was admitted as a solicitor in 1903, and initially in partnership with Daniel Edward Stanford in the firm of D. E. Stanford and Gover, Worswick Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, however, their partnership was dissolved January 28th 1905 and William Cyril branched out on his own.
In the census of 1911 he was listed together with his sisters Florence (27) Constance (24) and brother Charles, a medical student and their 3 servants, as, “son in charge” at their home address of Springfield, Gosforth, as his parents and sister Ann were on holiday, listed as boarders at Lea View, 49, 50 & 51 Grand Parade, Eastbourne, Sussex.
Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany on August 4th 1914, all regiments were ordered to raise new battalions in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms. Men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country. William Cyril enlisted circa September 1914 when the 21st (4th Public School) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers was formed at Epsom, September 11th 1914, as Private PT/2705.
The battalion was made up of men from public schools and universities as part of Kitchener’s New Armies. Following initial training near Epsom they were moved to Clipstone Camp in Nottinghamshire in July 1915, then on to Salisbury Plain for final training and departed to France, November 14th 1915 as part of the 98th Brigade, 33rd Division. During its time in France the regiment underwent several changes and February 26th 1916 the battalion was transferred to GHQ and disbanded, April 24th 1916. Many of the men were offered commissions.
Prior to his departure to France the family suffered the loss of his father John Cockram Gover, October 11th 1915 and within 6 month also his mother Mary Jane Gover nee Maxwell, April 1st 1916.
Private Gover had been discharged, March 20th 1916, and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery from the Officer’s Cadet Units, August 19th 1916 as 2nd Lieutenant (on probation). By November 1916 he had been promoted to Captain and awarded the O.B.E.
At the time of his demise he had risen to the rank of Temporary Major on the General List which acted as a holding unit for specialist officers usually reservists.
Temporary Major William Cyril Gover O.B.E. whilst serving at the headquarters of the 6th Division, Victoria Barracks, Cork died February 26th 1922, at the Central Military Hospital, Cork, Ireland. Cause of death, empyema thrombosis left femoral vein and pneumonia. Awards, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory medal. Temporary Major Gover was 41 years of age and single.
Probate, Newcastle upon Tyne, August 28th 1922, to John Maxwell Gover and Charles Norman Gover M.D. and Florence Mary Gover, spinster, in the sum of £8564 7 shillings 9 pence.
Temporary Major William Cyril Gover is not considered a casualty of war by the C.W.G.C. as his demise occurred after the cut-off date of August 31st 1921.
William Cyril’s eldest brother, Private Samuel Leslie Liddell Gover served with the 2nd Honourable Artillery Company. He committed suicide during a period of rest with his battalion in billets at Meteren, Nord, France, which had been withdrawn from the front line trenches during the 3rd Battle of Ypres in Belgium. John Maxwell Gover and Charles Norman Gover both served with the R.A.M.C.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
