Name
Archibald Cecil Gunnell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/07/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman/Private
1745
London Regiment *1
9th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Plot II, Row F, Grave 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of James George and Josephine Jessica (nee CLEMENTS) GUNNELL of Watford.
His parents married 12 September 1893 at St Peter’s, Warmsworth, Yorks. James died 23 December 1943 in Watford aged 85, and was buried 30 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Josephine died 14 January 1946 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 18 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Archibald was born 16 October 1896 in Windsor, Berks, and attended Watford Fields School; then Alexandra School, Watford, from 18 March 1907 to 30 September 1910. He resided in Watford, and worked as a clerk at the Railway Clearing House.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Windsor, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a railway clerk aged 15, he lived in Watford. with his parents and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 6 June 1915, and died at a Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
There is a Death announcement for Archibald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 31 July 1915, and a brief mention in the St Michael’s Parish magazine dated August 1915. Unfortunately, Archibald’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
*1 Probably more correctly (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
