John Frederick William Pell
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- Military History
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John Frederick William was the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Pell (née Jones). His father John was born in Sneinton, Nottingham, in 1865 and his mother Elizabeth was born in Nottingham in 1864. They were married at Radford Christ Church in March 1891 and had three children, the youngest of whom died in infancy: John Frederick William b. Woolwich London 1895 bap. Sneinton St Philip 4 August 1895; Frank Ernest b. Nottingham 1897 bap. St Philip 10 October 1897 and Grace Elizabeth b. 1906 d. 1906. At the time of the 1891 Census, shortly after their marriage, John, a crane driver, and Elizabeth were living at 12 Burwash Road, Plumstead, Kent. Their first child, John Frederick, was born in London four years later, but the family was still living on Burwash Road, Plumstead, when John jnr. was baptised in Nottingham in August 1895. However, the family had returned to Nottingham by the time of Frank's birth in 1897 and in 1901 they were living at 199 Alfreton Road where John had a newsagent's business. This was still the family home in 1911 by which time John snr. was assisted in the business by his wife and eldest son John. John and Elizabeth continued to live at 199 Alfreton Road after the war but by the time of John's death in December 1927 they had moved to 26 Gregory Boulevard. Elizabeth was still living at 26 Gregory Boulevard in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled; also in the home was her widowed sister, Louisa Stokes. Elizabeth died in 1945.
14th (London Scottish) Bn London Regiment John's army service record survives. He attested on 10 December 1915 and was transferred to the Army Reserve from 11 December. John was not mobilized until 4 January 1918. He was admitted to a military hospital in England (possibly Clipstone Camp) on 14 January 1918 for treatment for an abscess and was not discharged until 23 February 1918. He embarked for France on 17 July and was killed by an enemy sniper less than seven weeks later. He is buried in HAC Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein (Sp. Mem. B.9). The history of the cemetery suggests that John's grave was brought in from another burial ground after the Armistice He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of HAC Cemetery, Ecoust-St.Mein (extract): 'Ecoust-St.Mein is a village between Arras, Cambrai and Bapaume. The enemy positions from Doignies to Henin-sur-Cojeul, including the village of Ecoust, were captured on 2 April 1917, by the 4th Australian and 7th Divisions. This cemetery was begun by the 7th Division after the battle, when 27 of the 2nd H.A.C., who fell (with one exception) on the 31st March or the 1st April [1917], were buried in what is now Plot I, Row A. After the German counter-attack near Lagnicourt on the 15th April, twelve Australian gunners were buried in the same row. Rows B, C and part of D were made in August and September 1918, when the ground had been recaptured by the 3rd Division after five months enemy occupation. The 120 graves thus made were the original H.A.C. Cemetery; but after the Armistice graves were added from the battlefields of Bullecourt and Ecoust and from a number of smaller burial grounds [listed]. (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Frank Pell served with the 15th Bn Sherwood Foresters (25723 Private) and was killed in action on 18 July 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Their glory shall not be blotted out' [verses continue: Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore] Ecclesiasticus 44:13 (KJV) All Saints church magazine, November 1918, ROH: 'John Pell, 199 Alfreton Road, elder son of Mr and Mrs Pell, killed in action August 31st by enemy sniper. He was 23 years of age, an old member of the Boys Brigade [10th Nottingham BB] and Men’s Bible Class and a faithful and regular attendant at All Saints from a child. Both the sons of Mr and Mrs Pell have now fallen.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 26, 27 & 28 September 1918. ‘Pell. In loving memory of Pte John Pell, London Scottish, elder and second son killed in action, August 31st, aged 23, of Mr and Mrs Pell, 199 Alfreton-road. Beloved by all, silently mourned.’ www.britishnewsarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 26 September 1918. ‘Pell. Killed in action, August 31st, Pte John Pell, beloved nephew of Mr and Mrs Mann, and cousin Doris. Loved too much to be forgotten.’ www.britishnewsarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 1 October 1918: ‘Trade Unionists at the Workhouse. At to-day’s meeting of the Nottingham Board of Guardians … The chairman mentioned that an official visit had been paid to the workhouse by members of the Nottingham Trades Council ... A vote of condolence was passed to Mr John Pell, a member of the Board, on the death in action of his eldest son. This, said the Chairman, was Mr Pell’s second war bereavement.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Pell John of 199 Alfreton-road Nottingham Private in HM Army died 31 August 1918 in France. Administration Nottingham 11 April to John Pell shopkeeper [father]. Effects £58 2s. 8d. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 9 December 1927: ‘Pell. December 9th, at 26 Gregory-boulevard, John, beloved husband of Elizabeth, aged 62 years (late 199 Alfreton-road), 18 years Nottingham Board of Guardians. Interment Church Cemetery, Monday 3pm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 10 December 1927: ‘The death has taken place at 26, Gregory-boulevard, Nottingham, of Mr John Pell, Sixty-two years of age, he had been a member of the Nottingham Board of Guardians for 19 years. He was returned as a Liberal for Wollaton Ward in 1907, but on seeking re-election in April, 1925, he was defeated.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 13 December 1927: ‘The funeral took place at the Church Cemetery, Nottingham, yesterday of the late Mr John Pell, of 26, Gregory-boulevard, Nottingham, who was a member of the Nottingham Board of Guardians for about 18 years.’ (www.britishnewsarchive.co.uk) Probate: Pell John of 26 Gregory Boulevard Nottingham died 9 December 1927 Probate Nottingham 23 March to Elizabeth Pell widow and Arthur Edward Powell builder. Effects £4507 15s. 10d. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 4 January 1945: ‘Pell. January 2nd, Elizabeth, widow of the late John Pell, died, aged 82 years, also sister of Louisa [Stokes] and Emily. Cremation Wilford Hill, Friday, 12 noon. No flowers by request.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
