Name
Geoffrey Powell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/08/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
265543
Hertfordshire Regiment
"H" Coy. 1st/1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XVII. B. 11A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Geoffrey was the son of John and Kezia Powell, later of Gatwick, Shackleford, Godalming, Surrey. Born Denham, Bucks. He born circa 1889.
In the 1891 Census Geoffrey was living with his parents and siblings in Denham, Bucks. His father was working as a gamekeeper. In 1901, still in Denham with John still working as a gamekeeper, sadly he is now a widower. His sister Hannah Williams is now present. By 1911 Geoffrey had left home and was working as a domestic gardener on the Petworth Estate, Sussex. His address is, The Gardens, Petworth Park, Sussex.
Geoffrey Powell attested, at Hertford on 01/09/1914, he was 24yrs 4mths. Geoffrey was born in Denham, Uxbridge, Middx. At the time of attesting he was working as a gardener in Hatfield, Herts. Geoffrey had a fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and was considered fit for service.
Officially recorded as born in Denham, Bucks and was living in Hatfield when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
He embarked for France from Southampton on November 1914, became Lance Corporal on May 19th, 1915 and granted leave to England between August 30th and September 5th, 1915.
He was allotted new no. 265543 in March 1917, and in the same month suffered from impetigo. Promoted to a Corporal April 24th, 1917.
Received a shell wound to abdomen on August 1st, 1917 and died of wounds on the 5th.
His medals and effects were sent to his Father John Powell.
In the Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Geoffrey Powell – Newtown – 1st Herts Territorials.” Then in September Sept 1917: “This issue of the magazine is of necessity a sad one owing to the large number of casualties incurred by Hertfordshire in the glorious action at St Julien, in which all the officers of the 1st Herts were killed or wounded and a heavy toll in life of the men under them was taken. .......... We have however to mourn the loss of seven brave men: One being Geoffrey Powell, 1st Herts.”
Awarded Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914 Star
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
