Private 14432 Benjamin Thomas Powell
Killed in Action on Sunday, 30th July 1916, age 32.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 4 A of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
5th Bn., South Wales Borderers. 58th Brigade of 19th Division.
Husband of Mrs Edith Powell, of 50 South Street, Sebastopol, Newport, Monmouthshire.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Newport, Mon., Resident: Sebastapol, Newport, Mon.
First landed France & Flanders, 17th July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.
Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1549022/
Genealogical Data
Birth of Benjamin Thomas Powell registered in December 1883 at Dudley.
1901 Census
Weymouth Place, Panteg, Newport, Monmouthshire.
Benjamin Powell (45, Sheet Iron Shearer, born Tipton), his wife Eliza (46, born Tipton), and their 2 children: Louisa (19, born Tipton), and Benjamin (17, Iron Worker, born Tipton).
1911 Census
South Street, Sebastopol, near Newport, Monmouthshire.
Benjamin Powell (27, Roller at Sheet Mill, born Tipton), and his aunt Lucy Smith (57, Widow, born Tipton).
Marriage of Benjamin T. Powell and Edith J. Church registered March quarter 1913 in Pontypool. A son, Baden Cuthbert Powell, was born on 30th October 1913 and the birth registered in Pontypool.
Personal Data
Although born in Tipton, Benjamin had been living in South Wales since 1890 at the latest. Benjamin was born in Tipton in 1883, his younger brother, Cecil, was born in South Wales in 1890.
On 6th April 1908, Benjamin enlisted for 1 years’ service with the 2nd (Territorial) Welsh Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery, having previously served for 7 years as a Gunner with the 1st (Monmouth) Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He stated that he was 24 years and 5 months of age, lived at 20 Gladstone Place, Sebastopol, and had been born in Tipton. He was employed as a Sheet Worker at Baldwins Ltd of Panteg, and at that time he was 5 feet 5 inches tall with a 33-inch chest. He extended his Territorial service on an annual basis until he left on 31st March 1914. By then he was a Bombardier in the 3rd (Monmouth) Battery, Royal Field Artillery.
Given Benjamin's 13 years’ service in the Artillery, surprisingly he volunteered to join the South Wales Borderers and served in the 5th Battalion which was a Pioneer (labouring) unit.
After Benjamin's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances represented a debit balance of £1/12/3d (1 pound, 12 shillings and 3 pence) - in other words Benjamin owed the army money. His widow, Mrs Edith J. Powell, was informed of this, but there is no evidence of any attempt to recover the debt. His War Gratuity was £8/10/0d (8 pounds and 10 shillings), this was paid to Edith in January 1920. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Benjamin had enlisted in approximately August 1914.
Benjamin's widow, Edith Jane, was awarded a Widow's Pension of £0/18/9d (18 shillings and 9 pence) per week from 30th April 1917 for herself and her son Baden. Edith is recorded as Baden's 'Guardian' - this makes no sense as she was Baden's mother, and he was born in wedlock. Her address at this time was 50 South Street, Sebastopol, Monmouth. She later moved to 27 Alexander Road, Sebastopol.
Action resulting in his death
The 5th (Service) Battalion, South Wales Borderers (5/SWB) were the Pioneer Battalion for the 19th (Western) Division. They departed Southampton for Havre on 17th July 1915 aboard the SS Empress Queen, landing on 18th July.
The 5/SWB had a relatively quiet time until July 1916 and the commencement of the Battle of the Somme During July 1916, 43 men of the 5/SWB lost their lives, with Benjamin dying from his wounds on the 1st August. On 22nd July, the 5/SWB moved into the recently captuted Mametz Wood where they bivouaced whilst providing working parties - casualties were high. On 30th July, the 5/SWB were involved in a planned attack on the German lines just north of Bazentin-Le-Petit; their role was to consolidate and hold the captured German trench. The attack was launched at 6.10pm on 30th July, and by 7.00pm they had moved into the captured trench.
The 5/SWB had 10 men killed that day, with many more were wounded. Amongst those reported 'wounded and sent to hospital' was Benjamin Powell; he died from his wounds on 1st August. Any grave was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Newspaper Cuttings
None.