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1903 he arrived back in the UK. His mother, Mary, and his
sisters, were by now living in Kent and later Sussex. In 1911
Townsend was living in Canada but returned to England in
December 1913.
His mother, Mary, bought and moved to the Manor House at
Kings Cliffe in 1912 and no doubt Townsend also stayed there.
When war broke out, and despite being 37 years old, he re-
enlisted, this time in the Northamptonshire Regiment. He was
in the 3rd Battalion of the regiment but, at the time of his death,
was seconded to the 2nd Battalion. The 3rd Battalion was a
training battalion, which remained in England, whereas the 2nd
were involved in heavy fighting in France.
It is not known when he transferred to the 2nd Battalion but,
in November 1915, they were involved in the first major British
offensive of the war. It was an unmitigated disaster. The
preliminary bombardment was insufficient and there was no
element of surprise.
In the midst of this chaos Captain Powell lost his life.
He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, panel 7.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 19th May 1915 reports:-
“Death of Captain Townsend G Powell – Mrs Powell, widow of the
Reverend Townsend Powell, late Vicar of Quinton, near Stratford –
on-Avon, now residing at the Manor House, Kings Cliffe, received
information from the War Office on Friday morning that her son,
Captain Powell, of the 3rd Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in
action on the 9th May when leading his men in an attack on the German
trenches. The deceased served as a volunteer in the Matabele and
Boer Wars. The widow and relatives have our sincere sympathy in
their bereavement.”
POWELL David Watson
CO 16 Squadron RFC
Major/Col 1st & 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Act Lt Col. 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
David was born on 8th July 1878 at Quinton, Warwickshire and
was the second son of Townsend and Mary Powell and younger
brother of Townsend G Powell.
155
sisters, were by now living in Kent and later Sussex. In 1911
Townsend was living in Canada but returned to England in
December 1913.
His mother, Mary, bought and moved to the Manor House at
Kings Cliffe in 1912 and no doubt Townsend also stayed there.
When war broke out, and despite being 37 years old, he re-
enlisted, this time in the Northamptonshire Regiment. He was
in the 3rd Battalion of the regiment but, at the time of his death,
was seconded to the 2nd Battalion. The 3rd Battalion was a
training battalion, which remained in England, whereas the 2nd
were involved in heavy fighting in France.
It is not known when he transferred to the 2nd Battalion but,
in November 1915, they were involved in the first major British
offensive of the war. It was an unmitigated disaster. The
preliminary bombardment was insufficient and there was no
element of surprise.
In the midst of this chaos Captain Powell lost his life.
He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, panel 7.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 19th May 1915 reports:-
“Death of Captain Townsend G Powell – Mrs Powell, widow of the
Reverend Townsend Powell, late Vicar of Quinton, near Stratford –
on-Avon, now residing at the Manor House, Kings Cliffe, received
information from the War Office on Friday morning that her son,
Captain Powell, of the 3rd Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in
action on the 9th May when leading his men in an attack on the German
trenches. The deceased served as a volunteer in the Matabele and
Boer Wars. The widow and relatives have our sincere sympathy in
their bereavement.”
POWELL David Watson
CO 16 Squadron RFC
Major/Col 1st & 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Act Lt Col. 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
David was born on 8th July 1878 at Quinton, Warwickshire and
was the second son of Townsend and Mary Powell and younger
brother of Townsend G Powell.
155
