EDGAR GALE JULIAN NOWELL 1897–1917

Known as Gale

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

Commemorated on Radcliffe on Trent War Memorial

1901 Census

Age 3 living at The Green, Radcliffe on Trent, with father Walter 37, bricklayer, mother Annie 37, brothers George Henderson 9, Horace 7 and sisters Gertrude 15, Ethel 13, Constance 11 and Irene 2.

Annie’s widowed mother Sarah Wilford was living with the family.

1911 Census

Age thirteen living with his father Walter, foreman bricklayer, mother Annie, dressmaker, brothers George and Horace, both printer’s assistants, sisters Gertrude, dressmaker, Ethel, shop assistant manufacturing chemist, Constance, chemists goods manufacturing chemist, Irene, Ivy, eight, Gladys, five, and Edna, two, at Estate Cottage, Back Lane, Radcliffe on Trent. He was 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

Photograph courtesy of CWGC

Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium