Pte R/32424 Alfred Powell

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 1 GN LINCS REGT
• Died on Saturday 26th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Karachi 1914-18 Memorial

Alfred Powell was born on 25th September 1892 in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, the son of William Powell and Lucy (née Winckle).  William, from Shropshire, and Lucy, born in Liverpool, married in 1887 in Liverpool and had four children, all boys:  William Stanley, born in 1888, Richard 1889, and twins Alfred and Edwin in 1892.  Sadly, his twin Edwin died in infancy. Alfred was baptised in St. Clement, Toxteth Park, on Christmas Day 1892, his parents’ residence given as 15 Tagus Street, and his father’s occupation as coachman. 

His father is found on the 1891 census, before Alfred’s birth, at 15 Tagus Street, Toxteth Park, age 28, a carter, with wife Lucy, also 28, sons William 2, Richard, 1, and brother Richard Powell, 20, a bus conductor. 

His father died 1898 aged 36 in the Royal Infirmary, when Alfred was 5 years old. His mother remarried to William Chesters in 1900. 

The census of 1901 finds his stepfather and mother with three boys at 52 Chatham Street, Liverpool. His stepfather William Chesters is 31, a corn carter, his mother is 36, William 12, Richard 11, and Alfred 8.  They have three boarders and a visitor, Lizzie Pilling, 30. 

By 1911 his stepfather William Chesters, 41, is a chandler at 91 Holt Road, his mother is 47. They have two children, John Harold, 9, and Gladys, 7.  Alfred is 18, working as a clerk in the cotton trade. 

Alfred enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, as Private 15713, joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. (The Medal roll inexplicably shows 15713 1st Garrison Bn Manchester Regiment.)  No 1914-1915 Star has been found, suggesting that Alfred did not ship to France with his battalion, but instead remained in England, probably for health reasons. He was transferred to the 1st Garrison Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment, with the regimental number R/32424. 

Alfred joined the Garrison in February 1916. The 1st Garrison Battalion Lincolnshire had been in India since October 1915 and remained there throughout the war, under the command of the Presidency Brigade in 8th (Indian) Division.  This Division was headquartered at Lucknow and the Presidency Brigade formed that cantonment’s garrison.  Garrison Battalions were made up of soldiers unfit for front line duty. They were sent to various parts of the empire on garrison duties to release fit soldiers for front line duty.  By the end of the war there were 18 Garrison Battalions in India.

Alfred died, likely of disease, on 26th October 1918, two weeks before the Armistice.  

He was buried in Lahore Cantonment North Cemetery. This was one of about 30 cemeteries scattered throughout the north of Pakistan and the tribal areas where the permanent maintenance of graves was not possible.  He commemorated at The Karachi 1914-1918 Memorial, 

Karachi, formerly the capital of the Republic of Pakistan, is the country's only sea port and the main gateway for its trade. It is also the maritime terminus of the Pakistan Railway and its airport, situated on one of the trunk air routes of the world, gives it considerable additional importance. The city lies at the extreme western end of the delta of the Indus, on a backwater protected by a high rocky headland. To the north is dry, hilly country, while to the south creeks and mangrove swamps stretch to the sea.

The War Cemetery was created by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to receive the graves from a number of civil and cantonment cemeteries scattered through the north of Pakistan and the tribal areas, where their permanent maintenance was not possible. The imposing entrance of honey-coloured stone, quarried at Jungshai, near Hyderabad, is one part of a dual memorial the other part being in Delhi, to 25,000 men of the army and air forces of undivided India who died during the 1939-1945 War while on service in nonoperational zones.

The 1914-1918 Memorial is located at the rear of the cemetery opposite the entrance feature and it commemorates 575 Commonwealth casualties. Initially the memorial was designed to commemorate those who served in garrisons and died in Pakistan (formerly part of India) during the 1914-1918 War and who lie buried in civil and cantonment cemeteries there, excluding those graves lying west of the river Indus who it was decided would be commemorated on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate). However, due to difficulties in adding to the Delhi Memorial (India Gate) in recent years, some casualties who are known to have been buried in sites* west of the river Indus have subsequently been added to this memorial instead.

The cemeteries in which they lie buried, and which have since been found impossible to maintain adequately.

His family must have received the news of Alfred’s death after the war was over; they placed notices in the Liverpool Echo on 19th November 1918:  

“October 26, in India, aged 26 years, Sergeant Alfred Powell, 1st Lincolnshires, late Pals. - Sadly missed by his sorrowing Mother and Father, Sister and Brothers, at 91, Holt Road. (God took him when his hopes were brightest.)” 

Alfred was engaged to be married when he died:  

“October 26, in India, aged 26 years, Sergeant Alfred Powell, 1st Lincolnshires, late Pals, the dearly-loved fiancé of Ethel Barton. - Sadly missed by all at 9, Frost Street.”

 The Liverpool Echo on 23rd November gave more details:

 “One of the “Pals”:  

Sergeant Alfred Powell died in the Station Hospital, Lahore, on Oct. 26th. He joined the Liverpool “Pals” in Aug., 1914 and was sent to India in Feb. 1916. Formerly with G.C. Ralli & Co., cotton brokers. He lived with his parents at 91, Holt Road.” 

CWGC gives his rank as Private. 

His mother Lucy Chesters at 9 Holt Road, Edge Lane, received Alfred’s Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £24. The pension card (giving his rank as Sergeant) shows that she was awarded a pension of 15/- a week from May 1919. 

In 1939 his mother and stepfather are living at 104 Salisbury Road, Liverpool.  William Chesters, 69, is a coal dealer, his mother Lucy is 77.   His mother died in 1946, aged 84.   

His fiancée Ethel married in 1929 at the age of 38.  No children were born to the marriage.  In 1939 she is found living alone at 2 Fareham Road, widowed, working as a dressmaker.  Ethel lived until 1982. 

Alfred is commemorated on the following memorials -

Liverpool Cotton Association Memorial

St. Cyprian’s Church.

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