Charles William Browell (1892-)
Bede Scholar who joined the Royal Flying Corps after serving in the Royal Engineers
Born on 14 April 1892 Charles William Browell was christened a month later in East Rainton. He was the oldest of four sons who were still alive in 1911, born to John George Browell and Margaret Browell. Charles spent his early life in East Rainton before moving to Boldon Colliery sometime before 1907.
Unlike his father and younger brother, John, who both worked as miners, Charles chose to pursue a career in teaching. He trained at St Bede’s College, a training college for schoolmasters between 1911 and 1913. During his time at Bede College, Charles was part of the 8th Battalion Territorials. A photograph shows Charles with his fellow scholars at a camp with the territorials in Scarborough in 1913. Following his teacher training Charles took up a post as an assistant master at Ford Council School in Sunderland. It appears he did not teach at this school long before moving to become headmaster at a school in Rochester, Northumberland.
On 11 June 1915 Charles began serving in the Royal Engineers as a sergeant with the service number 470910. A few months after his enlistment Charles married Frances Mary Sharp, the daughter of a colliery deputy overseer, in Haltwhistle. Charles began serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France on 6 May 1917 and continued to serve here until 9 February 1918. Two days later Charles was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), becoming part of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on its formation on 1 April 1918. Having spent time at a school of aeronautics, he moved on to become part of the 38th training squadron in June 1918. He was transferred to the ‘unemployed list’ in April 1919, presumably due to the downsizing of the RAF after the end of the war. Following this, Charles returned to his teaching post in Rochester.
After the war, Charles worked as a headmaster at various schools in Northumberland. At the time of the 1939 register Charles was still working as a schoolmaster in Northumberland. Charles and Frances had at least one child, also called Charles.
One of Charles’ younger brothers, John, also served in the First World War as part of the Durham Light Infantry. He was injured by a gunshot wound to his left arm during his time in France.
Civil Parish: Durham Elvet
Birth date: 14-Apr-1892
Armed force/civilian: Air Force
Residence: Cross Lane, East Rainton, Durham (1901 census)
9 West Terrace, Boldon Colliery, Newcastle (1911 census)
Glebe Terrace, Choppington, Northumberland (Airmen records)
34 Countess Drive, Newcastle, Northumberland (1939 Register)
Education: St Bede’s College, Durham 1911-1913
Organisation membership: NUT
Employment: Assistant Master – Ford, Council School, Sunderland 1913
Headmaster
Family: Parents: John George Browell, Margaret Browell
Siblings: John George Browell, Leslie Browell, Gilbert Browell
Wife: Frances M Browell nee Sharp
Children: Charles Browell
Military service:
Royal Engineers
Sergeant
Service number 470910
Royal Flying Corps, later Royal Air Force
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham
