LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Private Levi George Powell
16th Bn Canadian Infantry
16
Bn Canadian Infantry
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
Pte
Levi G Powell
17th Canadian [sic]
Infantry
Vimy
April 9 1917
Our only source of information regarding Levi Powell is contained in the
Parish magazine issue of June 1917. (1)
It differs in two respects from the War Memorial particulars:
His unit is given as the 16th Bn. (Pioneers) Canadian Contingent, and
his date of death as 16th April.
It also gives a little about his personal background, stating that he
was previously the Bailiff of Cherkeley Court, Abraham Dixon's old
estate.
It may be that his unit was the 16th Canadian Infantry, in which case
the War Diary reference would be WO95–3781, (2)
Notes on sources
1. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead, issue of
June 1917.
2. Volume W095 "Finding Aids" Public Record Office, Richmond, Kew.
[NOTE CWGC data is as LWM]
Further research
Private
POWELL, LEVI GEORGE
Service Number 737084
Died 09/04/1917
Aged 43
16th Bn. Canadian Infantry
Son of Stephen and Charlotte Powell, of Poplar Rd., Leatherhead; husband
of Emma Powell, of Percey Cottages, 17, Lower Fairfield, Leatherhead,
Surrey, England.
Commemorated at VIMY
MEMORIAL
Location: Pas de Calais, France
He previously served with the East Surrey Regiment. He was
living in Alberta, Canada when he enlisted at Calgary, Canada, 12th June
1916. His pre-war profession was Bricklayer. The 16th Battalion Canadian
Infantry was also known as 16th
Battalion (Canadian Scottish), CEF
He has no known grave.
WAR DIARY 16th Battalion "THE CANADIAN SCOTTISH"
FORWARD AREA
8th The whole day was occupied in making final preparations for the
offensive which commences tomorrow morning. Enemy is alert and shelled
continuously during the day.
6.00pm No 1 Company moves up from BOIS DES ALLEUX to MAISON BLANCHE,
arriving at 9.30pm, where they remain until they move up at 2.00 am, to
dig themselves in.
9th 3:58 am Report sent to 3rd Cdn Inf Bde Headquarters that all Companies
and Units are in Assembly position and that casualties are few. Situation
normal. "Codeword MONTREAL"
LIEUT-COLONEL C.W.PECK, COMMANDING.
Operations are now commenced in aocordance with Operation Orders No 106
dated April 4th 1917.
Today is ZERO Day, and ZERO HOUR is 5.30 am
Battalion on our Right:- 14th Canadian Infantry Battallon, "ROYAL MONTREAL
REGIMENT".
Battalion on our Left:- 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 2nd Canadian
Division.
5.29 am Our Barrage oommenced.
5.32 am First Wave of Battalion
went over. (1 Piper went with each Company and Pipe Major with H.Q.)
All objectives reached according to Operation Orders No 106.
As Intelligence Officer was wounded and could not report location of
further advanced Battle Headquarters for Battalion, Colonel Peck decided
to establish Headquarters in a dugout in ZWISCHEN STELLUNG, and moved
forward accordingly.
All arrangements re consolidating
were carried out in accordance with Operation Orders No 108.
Battalion on Right is now:- 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 46th
Highlanders of Canada.
Battalion on Left is now: - 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 2nd Canadian
Division.
During advance we captured 1
-77mm calibre Enemy gun, several Machine Guns and 1 Minenwerfer Thrower.
Approximate number of prisoners taken, at very least 100; these were sent
to the rear of our lines.
10th Lieut.Colonel C.W.Peck goes to hospital sick. Major
R.O.Bell-Irving, M.C., arrives from Transport Lines and takes over command
of Battalion.
9.30pm Battalion is relieved in
their position in the occupied Enemy territory and moves back to MAISON
BLANCHE (Relieving Battalion in the Line - 10th Cdn.Inf Bn. (2nd Cdn. Inf.
Bde.)
In yesterday's assault the Battalion lost 16 Officers, the following being
Killed in Action: - Captain V.G.Tupper, M.C., Captain D.C. Campbell,
Lieuts J. Cowan, F.F. McGowen, A.E. Browne, and Lieut A.C. Cornell. Lieut.
C. Bevan, died of wounds, and 9 other Officers were wounded and evacuated,
3 Officers were wounded but remained at duty.
Estimated Casualties in N.C.O's
and Men are:- Killed - 58, Wounded - 167, Missing - 62.
Total Casualties "All Ranks - 323".
2 Officers were wounded today on
proceeding to join Battalion at MAIS0N BLANCHE from the Transport Lines.
Those portions of Companies and Units who were left behind at Transport
during the attack move up to MAISON BLANCHE.
Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 5 May 1917
LOCAL WAR CASUALTIES
Pte. Levi Powell (40), who leaves a wife and four children, living in the
Fairfield, has also been killed. Deceased, who was well known in
Leatherhead, having been bailiff at Cherkley Court, went out to Canada
five years ago and when war broke out joined one of the Canadian
contingents.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 29 December 1917
The list which present has been
compiled from the names that have been recorded in our Columns during the
past year.
APRIL
POWELL, Pte Levi, of the Canadians, husband of Mrs. Powell, Fairfield,
Leatherhead.
His life
Levi Powell was born on 16 December 1873, in Houghton, Sussex, England
(Arundel).
His father was Stephen Powell (1831-1917) an Agricultural Labourer from
Eastbourne, Sussex. He was a son of James Powell (1800-1880) and Harriott
Prince (1798-1847).
His mother was Charlotte Farmaner (1835-1910) from Shripney, Sussex,
antecedents unknown.
They were married on 5 December 1857 at Boxgrove, Sussex.
Levi's siblings were: Emma J b 1855, Elizabeth b 1858, Stephen b
1861, Ellen Rosa b 1862, Charlotte Mary b 1864, James b 1867, Emily
b 1871, Florence b 1872, Edmond b 1875, May b 1878, Alfred Philip b 1881.
Levi lived at:
1881 Census: East Dean, Sussex
1891 Census: Place Farm, West Horsley, Surrey
1901 Census: 1 Poplar Road, Leatherhead
1903: Baptism Register: Grangemount Cottages, Lower Ashtead
1907: Baptism Register: Poplar Road, Leatherhead
1910: Baptism Register: The Stables, Cherkley Court
1911 Census: Cherkley Court, Leatherhead
1916: Attestation: Sheppard, Alberta
He married Emma Bridger of Percey Cottages, 17, Lower Fairfield,
Leatherhead in Lewes, Sussex, in April 1901. She was born about 1871 and
came from Binderton in Sussex and was a daughter of Ann K Bridger
In about 1912 Levi emigrated to Canada. He had been Farm Bailiff at
Cherkley Court, Leatherhead which was acquired from the Dixon family in
1910 by Lord Beaverbrook, the Canadian politician and owner of the Express
Newspapers group.
Their children were: Herbert George, born 24 April 1902 in Ashtead,
Surrey, died 1980; Margaret Louise, born about 1903 in Ashtead; Stephen
Ralph born about 1906 in Leatherhead, Surrey; Violet May, born 30 October
1910 in Leatherhead, died 1997.
When he Attested in Calgary, Alberta on June 12 1916 he gave his address
as Sheppard, Alberta and his next of kin as his wife, Perley [sic]
Cottage, Letherhead, Surrey.
After WW1
When Levi's daughter Violet May Powell was married in 1933 her
address was 17 Lower Fairfield Road, Leatherhead suggesting that her
mother Emma remained there until at least then after the death of Levi.
In the 1939 England & Wales Register Levi's widow Emma was at 2
Waterloo Cottages, Leatherhead with their son Herbert George. She lived
there until her death on 22 June 1967 at Netherne Hospital, Coulsdon,
Surrey.
Levi George Powell is also remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of
Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish
Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial
Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey
in the Great War
Canadian
Virtual War Memorial
Canadian
First World War Book of Remembrance p311
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
last updated 19 Nov 20