John George Powell (1885-1916)
Hartlepool born man served in the 2nd battalion DLI
John George Powell was born in the first few months of 1885 in Hartlepool. His father was William H Powell, a labourer from Ramsgate in Kent. His mother was Annie Powell, originally from Middlesbrough. William and Annie had seven children; three boys and four girls. In 1891 the family were living at 4 Croft Terrace and by 1901 had moved to 6 Sandwell Chare, also in Hartlepool.
John enlisted into the army on 14 October 1905 when he was 20 years and eight months old. He was pronounced medically fit for service two days later with a distinguishing feature noted as a scar on the left side of the back of his neck. At this point he was living at 31 Howard Street in Hartlepool and was working as a labourer. John joined the 1st battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on 16 October 1906. His service records suggest that he spent time in Cork during 1906. After that, he seems to have spent time in India, which is where he was at the time of the 1911 census. A letter in John’s service record dated 1 January 1914 places him in Nowshera in India, where the 1st Battalion DLI were on garrison duty.
During World War One John served with the 2nd battalion DLI, joining the expeditionary force in France on 8 September 1914. He served as a private with the service number 9428. John was wounded in France in October 1914, suffering a gunshot wound to his left femur. He was transferred to the hospital ship St David on 21 October. John spent time at home between 22 October 1914 and 10 April 1915, presumably recovering from this wound.
John re-joined the troops in France on 21 April 1915. Medical records suggest he was treated for impetigo during 1915, but further details on this are unclear. At some point on active duty he contracted cerebro-spinal meningitis. He died from this on 24 January 1916 at the 14th Stationary Hospital in Wimeraux, France. Some sources report this as the hospital where soldiers with infectious diseases were treated. He is buried at the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.
John is remembered on several memorials in his home town of Hartlepool. He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory medal and the 1914 star with clasp for his service. Soldiers received a clasp to their 1914 star for serving under enemy fire between 5 August and 22 November 1914.
Civil Parish: Hartlepool
Birth date: 1885
Death date: 24-Jan-1916
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 4 Croft Terrace, Hartlepool (1891 census)
6 Sandwell Chare, Hartlepool (1901 census)
31 Howard Street, Hartlepool (Army service record)
Religion: Church of England
Employment: Labourer (service record)
Family: Parents: William H Powell, Annie Powell
Siblings: William E Powell, Annie M. J. Powell, Florence Powell, Margaret Powell, Henry Powell, Eliza G Powell (1891 and 1901 census)
Military service:
Enlisted 14 October 1905
1st Battalion DLI
Stationed at Cork and Nowshera, India
Joined 2nd Battalion DLI
Private
Service number 9428
Medal(s): 1914 Star with clasp
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France
Book of Remembrance 1914-18 DLI, Durham Cathedral
North East War Memorials Project, Northern Daily Mail list of men died
Wall 1914-18, 1939-45 Redheugh Gardens, Hartlepool
Book of Remembrance Fallen 1914-18, Hartlepool
Gender: Male
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
