| Date of birth: | 1892 |
| Place of birth: | Southampton |
| Regiment / Division: | Mercantile Marine Reserve |
| Ship: | HM Yacht Zaida |
| Died: | 15th November 1916 aged 24 years |
| Death location: | At sea |
Life before the War
Arthur, aka Ernest, was born 1892 in Southampton to parents George Frederick and Mary A, nee Pscinga. His father was born in London in 1843 and his mother was born in Brompton, Kent in 1854. He had 15 siblings:
Kate
George Dennis William 1873 – 1957
Sophia Elizabeth 1876 – 1878
Charles Theodore 1877 – 1947
William Henry 1879 – 1905
Catherine 1880
Eliza 1883
Frederick Issac 1885 – 1905
Agnes Louise 1886 – 1974
Annie 1887
Maud Sarah Mary 1887 – 1889
Florence Mary 1890
James 1890 – 1890
John Patrick 1894
Walter Frank 1897 – 1962
In the 1901 census the family was living at 18 Cook Street, St. Mary’s, Southampton. None of the family state any occupations.
By 1911 the family had moved to 16 Chantry Road, St. Mary’s, Southampton. George was working as a Carter for the Gas Company. Arthur and his brother John were working as Dock Labourers. George wrote that they had 16 children, 5 of whom had died prior to the 1911 census.
War service
Arthur was a crew member in the Mercantile Marine Reserve.
He served aboard the H.M.Yacht Zaida. He died on 15th November 1916. The cause of death was not recorded.
He is Remembered with Honour at the Armenian or Greek Cemetery, Angora, Turkey in Asia.
His sister, Mrs Findley living at the Fountain Hotel, High Street, Southampton, was notified of his death.
He was entitled to the Star, Victory and British Service medals.
Baghdad (North Gate) East Jewish, Iraq. Memorial Register:
“Flower, Std. Arthur E. H.M. Yatch Zaida. Mercantile Marine Reserve. 15th Nov., 1916. Angora Mem. 66”
Southampton Old Cemetery:
“Arthur FLOWER, Steward, HMY Zaida
HMY Zaida sunk 17 August 1916
Died 15 November 1916
Buried Baghdad (North Gate ) War Cemetery”
Historical information – H.M. Yatch Zaida
The Amman Valley Chronicle dated 31st August 1916
“The Secretary of the Admiralty makes the following announcement :
H. M. armed yacht Zaida, which was on detached service in the Gulf of Alexandretta, where she has been destroying petrol stored, &c., has been reported as being considerably overdue.
A recent German official communiqué stated that a patrol boat had been sunk in those waters. There is no doubt that this information referred to the Zaida, as news has now been received through Turkish sources that four officers and nineteen men of her crew have been taken prisoners, but there is no information as the fate of the remainder of the crew – two officers and eight men.
It must be assumed that they are lost”.
Arthur died 2 months after the Zaida sunk so it is possible that he may have been taken as a prisoner. It is still unconfirmed how he died.
Arthur’s 3 cousins – William, George and Richard Barnes – also died during the Great War. Please select the link to their names to read their stories.
| Researcher: | Rebecca Lonergan |
| Published: | October 2013 |
| Updated: | Insert dates here |
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