Acting Bombardier CYRIL EDWARD POWELL
17, Prison Quarters, Winchester (no longer stands)
Service number 66865. 112th Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Died of wounds, France, 29 September 1916
Life Summary
Cyril Edward Powell was born on 23 April 1897, the third child of Edward Giles Powell and his wife Ada. His family were not from Winchester but moved to the city when his father was made principal warder at Winchester Prison. Cyril was underage when he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in 1914 and he died two years later of wounds received during the Battle of the Somme.
Family Background
Cyril’s father Edward was born on 1 September 1862 in Bullingham, Herefordshire. His first job, according to the 1881 Census, was working as a bootboy at the Mitre Hotel in Hereford. Cyril’s mother was born Ada Baugh on 8 March 1867 in Ammely, Herefordshire.
Edward Powell’s career in the prison service began in Cardiff where he was made assistant warder on 1 August 1890. The following year he and Ada married in Hereford. Two children were born in Cardiff - Gladys in 1893 and Eric a year later.
Edward became Assistant Warder at Shrewsbury Prison on 1 November 1894. On 23 April 1897 Ada gave birth to Cyril in Greenfields, Shrewsbury. He was christened at St Julian’s Church, Shrewsbury, on 19 May 1897. The family were still living in the town when Cyril’s sister Maud was born on 30 June 1898.
In 1900 the Powells moved to Cambridge where Edward was appointed warder at the city prison on 4 December. The 1901 Census shows the family living at 57, Richmond Rd, Chesterton, Cambridge. Later in 1901, however, the Powells were on the move once more because of Edward’s work, this time back to Hereford. Here Cyril attended St Owen’s School.
On 15 April 1909 Edward was promoted to principal warder at Winchester Prison. The following month, 12-year-old Cyril entered St Thomas Senior Church of England Boys’ School but left in 1910 to go to work. The 1911 Census gives his occupation as ‘clerk accountant’ and shows that he was living with his family at 17, Prison Quarters, a house provided by the Prison Service which no longer stands. His 16-year-old brother Eric was serving as a boy soldier with the 3rd Battalion, The Coldstream Guards in Penge Barracks, south London.
Great War Record
When Britain declared war in August 1914, Cyril enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) in Winchester despite being just 17 years old. Assigned the service number 66865, he was attached to the 112th Battery as a gunner and trumpeter. The 112th Battery, together with 110th and 111th Batteries, were with 24th Brigade RFA and served with the British 6th Division.
The 6th Division moved to the Western Front early in the war and saw action on the River Aisne in September 1914 and the following year at Hooge, near Ypres. However, Cyril did not go out to France until 1916 when 6th Division fought in the later stages of the Somme Offensive.
At the Battle of Morval (25-28 September 1916), the Division took part in attacks on the villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesbœufs. These had been objectives during the earlier Battle of Flers–Courcelette (15–22 September) but remained in German hands. The opening day of the battle saw the British make their biggest advance on the Somme since mid-July. The three villages were captured, and heavy casualties inflicted on the Germans. Further south, in a coordinated attack, the French took Combles. However, fatigue and a lack of reserves prevented the British from exploiting the success further.
It is not known where and when Cyril was wounded, but presumably it was during the Battle of Morval. He died on 29 September 1916, aged 19. Although he served on the Western Front for a comparatively short time, Cyril did earn one promotion – to Acting Bombardier (the artillery equivalent of Acting Lance-Corporal).
Family after the Great War
On 11 September, shortly before Cyril’s death, his father had moved from Winchester to Leicester to become principal warder at the city prison. Edward became chief warder II at Bedford Prison in December 1919 and finally chief warder II at Plymouth Prison in April 1920. The family’s move away from Winchester in 1916 explains why Cyril’s name does not appear in the Winchester War Register which was compiled in 1921. Edward and Ada later moved to 34, Ivy Street, Penarth, Glamorganshire. The 1939 National Register records them at this address together with daughter Maud who was single and a music teacher. Ada Powell received a Dependant’s Pension on behalf of her son.
Cyril’s brother Eric (service number 8657) fought in the war with the Coldstream Guards. He survived and in November 1919 married Clarissa Kerr in Leicester. He remained in the Army and was promoted to Lance-Corporal in 1920.
Medals and Memorials for Cyril Edward Powell
Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, Somme
Acting Bombardier Cyril Edward Powell was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is buried at Guillemont Road Cemetery (above), Guillemont, Somme (GR. I. C. 10). His name appears on the memorials at St Matthew’s and St Paul’s churches, Winchester.