POWELL Francis Charles

Francis Powell enlisted as a Private in the Worcestershire Regiment on 22nd September 1913 at Stourport for a period of 4 years service. On his attestation paper he gave his place of birth as Wilden near Stourport, Worcestershire, his age as 17 years and his occupation as a labourer. He served at home from September 1913 to August 1915 when he embarked at Southampton on 17th August 1915 to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. He disembarked in Havre on 18th August 1915. In March 1916 he was admitted to a field hospital suffering from influenza. Francis Powell was killed in action on 19th July 1916 during one of the many battles on the Somme.

Information in All Saints Church, Wilden states that Francis was killed in battle in France aged 19 and was buried in Pozieres British Cemetery (Near Albert).

Kidderminster Shuttle, 7th November 1914:
Private F.C. Powell, No 3 Section, C Co, 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, Serving with H.M. Forces.

Kidderminster Shuttle, 19th December 1914:
Private F.C. Powell of Hawthorn Cottages, C Co, 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment is listed in €œStourport Men and the War€ €“ a list of men serving.

Kidderminster Shuttle 26th August 1916:
Francis worked at Baldwins, Wilden. He belonged to the Territorials, went to France in August 1915 and has not had a furlough since going abroad. An old choir boy and a member of the Wilden Rifle Club. His letters home were extremely bright and he was the first village boy to fall in France. News that he was killed in action was first received in a letter from L/Cpl Harold Randle on July 27th and officially confirmed on August 14th.