Harold Whitt Pell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold Whitt Pell was the son of William Henry and Sarah Elizabeth Pell (née Whitt). William Henry Pell was born in Whatton, Nottinghamshire, in 1857, the son of Joseph and Mary Pell (née Reek). In 1871 his father was an innkeeper in Whatton but also farmed 30 acres. However, ten years later in 1881 William Henry was living in the Farm House, Whatton, farming 145 acres and employing three labourers and two boys. Also in the household were two of his younger siblings, Mary and Joseph, a female domestic servant and two male indoor farm servants. By 1891 William was farming in Flawborough and employing two farm servants and two female domestic servants. His sister Mary was still living with him and her occupation was given on the census as housekeeper. Sarah Elizabeth Whitt was born in Stepney, London, in about 1858, the daughter of William and Sarah Whitt. Her father was born in Whatton, Nottinghamshire, but he and his wife moved to London where he was employed by a tea broker. In 1891 the family was living at Mile End, Stepney. William Henry and Sarah Elizabeth were married in Stepney in 1891 and had four children who were all born in Flawborough: Joseph William b. 1893, Eric Henry b. 1894, Harold Whitt b. 1897 bap. Flawborough St Peter 24 October 1897 and Hilary Mary Elizabeth b. 1903. In 1901 William, his wife, their three sons and Sarah's widowed father, William Whitt, a retired tea broker, were living at the Manor House, Village Street, Flawborough. Also in the household was a governess and a general domestic servant. William Pell was a tenant farmer to the Duke of Newcastle. By 1911 the family had moved to Holme House, Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire. The eldest son Joseph was a civil engineer while Eric was working on the farm with his father. Harold and Mary were school age. Also in the household were two general domestic servants. Holme House was situated on the corner of Stragglethorpe Lane (see photograph) and the family were tenant farmers to Lord Manvers. Totalling around 700 acres they were considered large scale farmers. Harold's father, William Henry, died in November 1929. His widow Sarah Elizabeth later moved to London, probably with their daughter Hilary, and died there in June 1938.
1st Bn Life Guards. Harold Whitt Pell enlisted on 26 October 1915. He was killed in action in France aged 18 on 28 August 1916. According to the family's memories, his brother Eric was given two days leave to find his body, but was unsuccessful. Harold has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 1 A). CWGC - History of the Thiepval Memorial (extract): 'The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The village had been an original objective of 1 July. Attacks north and east continued throughout October and into November in increasingly difficult weather conditions. The Battle of the Somme finally ended on 18 November with the onset of winter.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC: 'Son of William Henry and Sarah Elizabeth Pell, of Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham.' 'Winnie Pell (widow of the late William John Elnor Pell) says that Harold lied about his age to enlist and because he was tall joined the 1st Battalion Life Guards. He was killed in action in France aged 18 years old on 28th August 1916 and has no known grave. His brother Eric was given two days leave to find his body, but was unsuccessful.' Note: birth registered 1897 (O/N/D), baptised 24 October 1897. According to a Household Cavalry record, Harold enlisted on 26 October 1915 and was therefore 18 years old when he joined the Household Cavalry. CWGC gave his age at his death as 19. 'Harold Whitt Pell was the youngest and considered to be the hero of the family. According to his sister-in-law who knew him well, he was tall, very good looking, had a good sense of humour, was a good dancer and very popular with girls.' Thanks to Diane Kidger for researching the above. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Sarah Elizabeth was his sole legatee. Both Harold's brothers served in the war. Joseph William was in the University College Nottingham OTC and was gazetted to the Sherwood Foresters in February 1915. He served in France and was wounded on at least three occasions. Joseph died in 1951. Eric Henry served initially with the South Notts Hussars (1/1st) sailing from the UK to Egypt on 9 April 1915. The Hussars served in Gallipoli from August to December 1915 and then in Salonica, Greece, from February 1916. However, Eric was invalided home from Salonica suffering from heatstroke and malaria before the unit was transferred to Egypt in June 1917. In April 1917 he joined the 11th Hussars (Prince of Albert's Own) which served in France. Eric died in 1950. Nottingham Evening Post, 16 November 1929: ‘Death of Mr WH Pell, Holme Pierrepont. A wide circle of friends will mourn the death of Mr William Henry Pell of Holme House, Holme Pierrepont, which occurred in a Nottingham nursing home after a short illness. He was 72. Born at Whatton-in-the-Vale, Mr Pell was, for something like 40 years, a member of the Bingham Board of Guardians and was association with Bingham District Council from the time of its formation. He represented the parish of Flawborough. Nine years ago he became a member of the Notts County Council for Bingham. Last year he was vice-chairman of the Assessment Committee for South East Notts. During the war Mr Pell was associated with the War Tribunal for Bingham and the War Agricultural Committee. A farmer in a large way of business at Holme Pierrepont, he formerly farmed at Flawborough. The funeral will take place on Monday at Holme Pierrepont.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) The Nottingham Evening Post of 18 November published a report of the funeral.
