Herbert James Powell was born in Liverpool on 19 November 1897 and baptised at St. Silas, Pembroke Place on 6 February 1898. He was the oldest of three children born to James Henry Powell and his wife Sarah Emma Richards who had married at St. Mary, Edge Hill on 14 November 1888.
James had been born in Chatham, Kent but had moved to Liverpool as a child around 1879. He had become a coachman by the time of his marriage. When Herbert was baptised, James and Emma lived at 12 Anson Terrace but the family moved home frequently.
A daughter, Mary Agnes, was born on 26 November 1898 and baptised at St. Clements, Toxteth on 7 June 1899 when the family lived at 187 Chatsworth Street. Sadly she died later that year and was buried on 1 August at Toxteth Cemetery.
In the Census taken on 31 January 1891, the Powell family were recorded at 71 Byles Street. James was still, a coachman or groom. Another daughter was born on 27 May 1902 and named Jessie Briard. She was baptised on 2 July 1903 at St. Nathaniel's Church in the Windsor district of Liverpool when the family were living at 17 Holmes Street.
Jessie's school admission records have survived showing that she attended St. Paul's Church schools until 30 June 1910 when she left the district to live in Fleetwood.
In the Census taken on 2 April the following year, the Powell family were recorded at 62 Gamble Road, Thornton living with the family of William Minto (whose uncle and namesake also died in World War I). James had become a chemical labourer. Herbert attended Church Road School. We have not found a connection between the two families or an explanation for why the Powell family moved to our area.
Herbert's war service record has not survived. We know that he enlisted in the Royal Liverpool Regiment at Blackpool and was sent to France on 3 May 1915. He was reported missing in action on 8 August 1916 and later presumed to have been killed on after that date. Herbert was aged 18 and unmarried. The family had already returned to Liverpool and Herbert's mother had died a couple of months before him.
Lance Corporal Herbert James Powell, 306279, 1st/8th Battalion, Royal Liverpool Regiment is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France and on the memorial tablet at Church Road School, Thornton.
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