2/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Archibald Ernest Powell was the eldest of nine children born to James and Eliza Powell who were both born in Stroud. His birth was registered in last quarter of 1883. He was baptised aged four at a joint ceremony with his three-year-old brother, Charles and his brother Albert at St Lawrence Church Stroud on 25 November 1887. James’ occupation was listed as labourer.
At the 1891 Census, the family were living at Summer Street, Stroud. Both James and Eliza were 29 and had four children. James’ occupation appears to be ‘boat work’(?) and Eliza was a ‘mender’ (winder?).
By 1901, the growing family were living in Slad Road, Stroud. Eliza was employed as a woollen cloth winder and Archibald as a warehouseman. James does not appear with the family but does appear boarding at an inn with five others from the Stroud area in Buckinghamshire working as a bridge riveter.
The 1911 Census finds the family living at Uplands, Stroud. James states he has been married for 29 years having seven of nine children still living. He was labouring at the iron foundry. Archibald was still working as a warehouseman (woollens). Six of his siblings were still living at home. It would appear that his mother, Eliza died later that year in July.
On Christmas Eve 1911, 28-year-old Archibald married 27-year-old Clara Alice Gay at Cainscross. Their first daughter, Betty Freda, was born in 1912 and baptised at Uplands on 17 November 1912. Olive Sylvia followed being born on 2 June 1914.
According to his entry in the Medal Rolls for the Glosters, Archibald initially served with the 2/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion and in 1917, when all Territorial Force personnel were allocated new six figure numbers his changed from 3069 to 240949. The Medal Roll also notes service with the 8th Battalion, retaining the latter number. The number 3069 was allocated to the 2/5th Glosters in September 1914, so this would indicate that he was an early war volunteer, who answered Lord Kitchener’s call. He appears to have served through the war, whether unscathed is unknown in the absence of a service record. Possibly he was wounded or fell sick and upon recovery was posted to the 8th Battalion.
A recently released Pension Record Card states that he died from influenza and pneumonia on 10 August 1921 and that his final unit was the 8th Glosters: he was aged 38.
His widow’s address was given as 3 Uplands, Stroud. The CWGC form states that he was discharged on 26 March 1919. According to the web site Military Images.net, Archibald was a postman.
Archibald’s brother served with the Labour Corps. He was discharged due to ‘debility’ in January 1920 but was refused a pension.
Archibald is buried at Slad (Holy Trinity) Churchyard and has a CWGC headstone.
It appears that Clara never re-married and died in Stroud in 1972.
Researched by Helen Wollington February 2021