Footman for a day in the convoy for King George V and Queen Mary, May 1917 · First World War Poetry Digital Archive

Title

Footman for a day in the convoy for King George V and Queen Mary, May 1917 See all items with this value

Description

""I then got involved in something I didn't think very much about at the time. I was stationed at Chester - we were doing our training at Sandycroft Barracks adjoining Chester Castle. While on parade one evening we were lined up and Corporal Nelson started

Identifier

7614.txt

GWA_6678_Footman_for_a_day_in_the_convoy_for_King_George_V_and_Queen_Mary__May_1917.txt

Creator

Powell, Walter See all items with this value

Abstract

Transcription of Walter Powell's notes dated 8th Nov. 1985 (scribbled on the backs of envelopes) about his part as an A.S.C. driver in the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Chester, Eaton Hall, Hawarden Hall, Queens Ferry, May 1917. Apparently although he rarely spoke to most people about his war experiences, this one was something Walter Powell shared with anyone who would listen. In this collection there are also postcards of this visit photocopied by Walter Powell's family in the 1980s, as well as studio portrait photographs of him in his "poshed-up" uniform.

Part of a collection relating to Walter H. Powell, Llandrindod Wells, (private / driver M2-267205 Mechanised Transport Army Service Corps). Born 1898, Walter tried to join up under-age on a number of occasions, finally succeeding in 1916. He served many months - (more than 2 years?) - in different army units in Britain, before going over to France. He served as a despatch rider for an anti-aircraft battery in 1918-1919. Walter was gassed "suffering the effects all his life". He was a founder member of Toc-H in Llandrindod, and a keen footballer - he died in 1994 aged 96. However Walter's older brothers (Cliff and Percy Powell) and his uncle (Humphrey Powell) died of wounds sustained during the war.