POWELL, Francis Cyril

Description

Photocopies of Commissioning Scrolls (1907, 1917, 1920) (photocopies)


Royal Warrant as Warrant Officer II (1916) (photocopy)


Canadian Expeditionary Force Service Certificate (original and photocopy)


Obituary Notice from Regimental Journal Regimental Officers group (photocopy)


Article on how Francis Cyril Powell was awarded the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal), includes a copy of a painting of the action for which he was awarded the medal (photocopy)


Photographs


Photograph album of F.C. Powell's funeral procession (original)


Copy and original of passport issued to his sister by the British Consul in Frankfurt (2 Aug 1914)


Letter from his sister (original and photocopy)


Formal notice of Captain F.C. Powell's mention in a dispatch from Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, 8th November 1918 (original and photocopy).


4 framed photographs.

Biography or history

Major Francis Cyril Powell (1888-1936) served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Welch Regiment from 1907-1909. After emigrating to Canada he joined the 31st British Colmbia Horse Regiment and then Lord Strathcona's Horse and Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regiment.


Born in Swansea, Powell was a pupil at Malvern College. Later he attended Sandhurst. Powell emigrated to Kamloops, Canada around 1909.


In the First World War Powell served on the Western Front and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry under fire during the battle of Festubert, May 1915. Close to the enemy line, Powell was responsible for manning a telephone station in a farm house. The ground surrounding the station was heavily shelled by enemy forces and the telephone lines were regularly cut. Powell and his troops had to venture into treacherous conditions to repair them.


In late May an urgent message arrived from Brigade Headquarters. There was no time to fix the telephone lines and Powell decided to deliver the message himself to the Commanding Officer. This placed him in grave danger as he crossed difficult terrain whilst shells exploded around hm. After this trip he made the crossing several times to deliver other important messages.


Powell continued to serve in the army after the First World War and was based in Calgary, Canada. Promoted to Major in 1935, he died in a horse riding accident on 30th September 1936.

Provenance

Includes additional accession of letters and photographs received in 2018.

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

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