Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Flanders | Panel 3 | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.132 | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Born Brighton, Son of Daniel William Powell, of 5, Mortlake Terrace, Victoria Rd., Southsea, Portsmouth.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales' Own) |
3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards August 1914 : at Cairo in Egypt. Recalled to England, arrived at Liverpool on 18 October 1914. 31 October 1914 : landed in France and on 4 November under command of 6th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division. |
| Action : The Battles of Ypres 1915 (Second Ypres) |
22 April - 25 May 1915. On the 22nd April 1915 the Germans used poison gas at Ypres. This was the first 'official' use of gas and took the Allies by surprise. After initial success capitalising on the confusion and horror of this weapon, a heroic stand, initially by the Canadians and then supported by British and Indian Battalions, held the German advance. However it became clear that the Germans had achieved a tactical advantage and eventually the British were forced to retire to more a more defendable perimeter closer to Ypres. These positions were on the last ridges before Ypres and their loss would have resulted in the loss of the town and possibly open the Channel coast to German occupation with disastrous consequences for the re-supply of the BEF.
Detail :
He was formerly 537 B.P. Powell of the Royal Fusiliers, whose heavily "burnt record" is archived. He enlisted 12th December, 1900 at Stratford and went to South Africa. Unfortunately, he was convicted of "Deserting His Majesty's Service" 22nd February, 1901 and forced to forfeit not only his former military service, but also his South African Campaign Medal. He was imprisoned for 28 days (military) in April 1902 and returned to service May 17th. This entry is struck from his military record as cancelled and dated 5th May 1902. His service record lists his father Daniel, resident at 7 Reginald Road, Forest Gate. It also lists his brothers, Daniel of 4542, B Squadron, 3rd Dragoon Guards (based at Curragh Camp), Sydney and John, both at home with father.
The record shows that he had left military service by 1910 and seems he got his life in order becoming a Steward and citing a Park Lane address and, of course, becoming a Freemason.
At the outbreak of the Great war it appears he re-enlisted as 7346, Private Bertram Percy Powell, 3rd (Reserve) Dragoon Guards Cavalry, attached R.I. Horse Guards. Death was presumed 13.5.15. Soldiers effects notes his father Daniel W.
He is remembered on the Menin Gate memorial.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Royal Kew and Whitehall No. 3020 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
8th February 1912 | 10th October 1912 | 14th November 1912 |
Listed as a 28 year old Steward of 43 Park Lane, West London at the time of initiation in 1912. War service is recorded in the contribution register followed by "Killed in Action April 1916," which is a long way out from the official record.
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