Project Description
EDGAR GALE JULIAN NOWELL 1897–1917
Brother of George Andrew Henderson Nowell, who was killed at the Battle of the Somme and Horace Nowell
Born 26th April 1897 in Radcliffe on Trent
Baptised 10th August 1899 at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Radcliffe on Trent
Killed in action 28th June 1917, when serving at Canal Bank near Ypres, Belgium, age 20
Burial: Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium. Grave reference ID 23
Remembered on Radcliffe on Trent War Memorial
1901 Census
Age 3 living at The Green, Radcliffe on Trent, with father Walter, bricklayer, mother Annie, brothers Henderson 9, Horace 7 and sisters Gertrude 15, Ethel 13, Constance 11 and Irene 2.
1911 Census
Age 13 living with his father Walter, foreman bricklayer, mother Annie, brothers George 19 and Horace 16 both printer’s assistants, sisters Gertrude 25, Ethel 23, Constance 21, Irene 11, Ivy 8, Gladys 5 and Edna 2 at Estate Cottage, Back Lane, Radcliffe on Trent. He is employed as a printer’s assistant.
Military Service
Rank: Private
Service Number: 41108
Military Unit: 17th (Service) Battalion (Welbeck Rangers), The Sherwood Foresters, 117th Brigade, 39th Division
Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 16.7.16. Total war service abroad 11 months.
Attested: 20th Jan 1916 in Nottingham, age 19
Address: Estate Cottage, Water Lane, Radcliffe on Trent. Occupation: Assistant baker. Height 5ft 8½ins, chest 35ins, weight 149lbs.
21.1.16: To Army Reserve
5.4.16: Mobilised and posted Army Service Corps
11.4.16: Posted to Sherwood Foresters, 4th Battalion
16.7.16: Posted to France
3.9.16: Posted to 17th Battalion
18.1.17: Deprived 7 days’ pay for reporting sick without cause
28.6.17: Killed in action when serving at Canal Bank near Ypres, Belgium
Son of Walter and Annie Nowell of Estate Cottage Radcliffe on Trent.
From the War Diary of the 17th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters, June 1917 (diary held by the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Museum, Nottingham):
28th: Routine. Battalion at full strength working in Front line and vicinity during all hours of darkness.
29th: Routine. Battalion at full strength working in Front line and vicinity during all hours of darkness.
30th: Routine. A very wet day. Battalion relieved by the 1/1 HERTS REGT. and move into Divisional Reserve under Canvas at “C” CAMP (Map Reference SHEET 28.A.30 Central).
Total Casualties during past 6 days on CANAL BANK:–
1 Officer Wounded 2nd Lieut. O.R. MILLS, 1 Other rank Killed, 16 Other ranks wounded.
H. MILWARD, Colonel, Comdg. 17th (S) Bn. The Sherwood Foresters.
Medals Awarded: British War and Victory, received by his mother on 8.11.21
Go to WWI Timeline to see how this man’s death is part of the wider story of the war.
Reasons for inclusion on the Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour
Lived and worked in Radcliffe on Trent
Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium