60776: Diary of W.J. Powell, father of Walter Powell
Creators: name: Project Team, Great War Archive
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 430304
subject: British history
classificationCode: 430308
subject: European history (excl. British, classical Greek and Roman)
classificationCode: 430316
subject: International history

description: Extracts from the diary of W.J. Powell, Cliftonville, Llandrindod Wells 1918. Entries include appointments and deliveries to do with his ironmongers shop, and the Presbyterian Church and the Albert Hall theatre and other everyday matters relating to life on the home front such as coal rations, heavy snow, influenza, his own health etc. Also the entries mention friends and congregation members serving in the forces like dates of letters sent/received from, news - someone captured, or missing, or on leave, or tribunals [for conscription?], or sometimes funerals - as well as news of his two boys (Walter and Cliff) serving in the army. Notes about the health of his eldest son (Cliff) include his discharge from the army from TB contracted whilst on active service, as well as entries relating to the anniversaries of his middle son's death (Percy). The addresses of some correspondents including their regimental numbers and their units are written at the back. For example:

18 Feb 1918 ACP [Cliff] weight 7 10 1/2 [suffering from T.B.]<br>
1 March 1918 Recd letter from Cliff discharge papers through. Wrote Doctor at Woolwich [where Cliff was being treated for T.B.]<br>
10 June 1918 Official news recd Jack Derrett missing for 14 days<br>
14 June 1918 Wal mobbed and passed Gas [course]<br>
10 July 1918 Walter came home on Mail. 48 hours leave " caught Canary [pet]� [In the memorandum section of the diary is recorded the books being sent to Wal for Mesopotamia.]<br>
12 July 1918 Walter left 9am train. [In this collection are Walter's memories of failing to return to his base on time after this 48 hours leave and being punished for being late.] News J Derrett P of War [Prisoner of War]<br>
13 July 1918 At Brecon Med Board [for Cliff]. Called at Talgarth [hospital] to see Cliff. Wire from Walter company broken up [no mention obviously of the punishment mentioned above].<br>
24 July 1918 War memorial fixed at Chapel [Photos etc. of this memorial are in this collection]<br>
29 July Film spool recd from Wal [Walter is at Bulford Camp Salisbury Plain, and photos from there are in this collection]<br>
26 Sept Walter crossed to France on Wed night, landed L Havre 4pm�<br>
15 October 1918 PC recd from Wal<br>
23 October 1918 Letter recd ex Wal and Pcl [parcel] sent him, books, scarf, gloves etc.<br>
11 November 1918 Peace declared. Cease Fire 11 am. A glad day.<br>
17 November 1918 PC dated 11/11/18 recd from Wal<br>
20 November 1918 Submarines landed over @ Harwich<br>
21 November 1918 German H.S. Fleet handed over to Beatty @ Scapa Flow<br>
26 Long letter recd from Walter¦ Walter ill. PC to Wal [This is the only entry in the diary about Walter's health once he has<br> gone to France. Walter was actually gassed so this may be a reference to the after-effects of that attack?]

W.J. Powell's diaries for 1916 and 1917 are also in this collection.

Part of a collection relating to Walter H. Powell, Llandrindod Wells, (private / driver M2-267205 Mechanised Transport Army Service Corps). Born 1898, Walter tried to join up under-age on a number of occasions, finally succeeding in 1916. He served many months - (more than 2 years?) - in different army units in Britain, before going over to France. He served as a despatch rider for an anti-aircraft battery in 1918-1919. Walter was gassed "suffering the effects all his life". He was a founder member of Toc-H in Llandrindod, and a keen footballer - he died in 1994 aged 96. However Walter's older brothers (Cliff and Percy Powell) and his uncle (Humphrey Powell) died of wounds sustained during the war.