The favells of fort road, bermondsey
Arthur Edward Favell and his wife Catherine lived in Fort Road, Bermondsey. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters. Sons, Arthur, Harry and Frank all served in WW1. Arthur senior was a compositor in the printing trade and 48 when he also volunteered in October 1914. He had previously served 10 years as a part-time Territorial Soldier in the 3rd London Rifles. Initially allocated to the 24th Battalion of the London Regiment he was later transferred to the Royal Defence Corps who would provide guards for key installations within the UK.
The eldest son, Arthur junior, was a Teacher of carpentry who had trained at Shoreditch College and was now working for the London County Council. He had joined the 21st (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles) as a part time Territorial Soldier in 1909 at the age of 17. He volunteered for service abroad and embarked for France in March 1915 as a Lance Corporal. Just two months later he was wounded in action and taken to a Field Hospital at Bethune before being transferred to Rouen and then repatriated to England on the 29th of May. It took just over four months to recover from his wounds and regain fitness before he was once again sent out to France in early October 1915. He was appointed to Lance Serjeant in January 1916 and by May he was a full Serjeant.
Later that same month he was killed in action near to Vimy Ridge. The LCC memorial book states that “The fighting on Vimy Ridge to the South of Souchez, in May, 1916, when many of the council’s Staff were killed was briefly as follows: – At evening on 15th May the British exploded several mines in No Mans Land and the craters were occupied by troops of the 25th Division. On the 21st the Germans heavily bombarded the position and during the night 21st/22nd, while the 47th Division was relieving the 25th, they captured the craters and even parts of our trench system in rear. As already stated it was not thought worthwhile to drive them out. The casualties included Sergt. Arthur Favell (21st Lond. , Edu) killed on the 18th..” another 11 of the Councils employees are then listed as being also killed or died of wounds following the action. Arthur is buried in the Cabaret – Rouge British Cemetery, Pas de Calais. Arthur’s medal index card (MIC) shows that he was entitled to the 1915 Star, War and Victory medals. His service record indicates his medals were returned to be broken up.
Middle son Harry Favell was also a Territorial Soldier at the outbreak of war, having joined the 22nd Battalion London Regiment (The Queen’s), based at Jamaica Road in Bermondsey. The 22nd was allocated to the 6th London Brigade of the London Division and moved to the St Albans area in Hertfordshire before being transported to France, landing at Havre on the 16th March 1915. After initial promotion to Lance Serjeant, Harry’s eventual rank was Company Quartermaster Serjeant (CQMS). The CQMS and his small team were responsible for delivering ammunition, mail, food and supplies at all times in all conditions. The CQMS needed a higher than average level of literacy, arithmetic and an awareness of logistical issues to take responsibility for the stores and its transport.
Bringing up the supplies was often more dangerous than holding the front line, involving more exposure to enemy fire while escorting the lumbering horse drawn open carts and then hauling the supplies along communication trenches to the front. Harry would have to continue doing this after he had learned of his brother’s death in 1916. It may have been on one of these missions that Harry won his Military Medal (MM). The 28th July 1917 edition of the London Gazette announces “His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the under-mentioned NCO’s & men”. 680156 Serjeant H Favell, London Regiment is among those listed.
Later in August 1918 he would win another gallantry award. The London Gazette of 14th January 1919 announced “His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to the under mentioned Warrant Officers, NCOs & men for gallantry and distinguished service in the field”. Among those awarded is 680156 C/S/M H Favell MM, 1/22 Battalion London Regiment (Bermondsey). The individual citation reads “On 22nd / 23rd August 1918, South of Albert, when our troops on the flank were compelled to withdraw under heavy pressure, he displayed great gallantry and disregard of danger, rallying the men by his splendid example under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. He was of great assistance to the only Officer left of the company, and it was largely due to his efforts that a defensive flank was formed that successfully held up the enemy”. Harry’s DCM was awarded posthumously as he was killed in action just ten days later.
Once he had reached the age of 18, the youngest of the brothers, Frank, joined the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in 1917. Rather than France, Frank served in the British Expeditionary Force in Italy, who were sent to bolster Italian forces fighting against the Austrians and Hungarians. In the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, in October 1918 the HAC were part of combined British, Italian and American force that forced the surrender of the garrison on the strategic island of Papadopoli in the main channel of the River Piave. For this remarkable feat of arms, the HAC was awarded two Distinguished Service Orders, five Military Crosses, three Distinguished Conduct Medals and 29 Military Medals.
Frank’s individual service record sadly no longer exists, as like many others it was burned during the London blitz of WW2 (as was his brother Harry’s). Just his medal index and HAC record cards exist, along with a service photograph. Frank returned to England on completion of his service and was able to be reunited with his parents and sisters.
Having lost two sons, you would expect that Arthur senior would be keen to be out of the army as soon as peace was declared. But, at the beginning of March 1919, he relinquished his right to demobilisation and signed up to serve for a further year in the army of occupation in Germany. Perhaps he did not want to return home following his loss and this might explain why Arthur junior’s remaining medals were not claimed. However, his intended service in Germany seems never to have happened, as shortly afterwards he was in a Military Hospital in Eastbourne suffering from influenza. The impact of the war is thought never to have left him and his death in 1934 was thought to be suicide.
Special thanks go to Tracey Bowers, Great niece of Arthur, Harry and Frank for the use of personal photographs. Brunel University for the photograph of Arthur as used on their memorial. www.grandeguerraphotoarchive.com for the use of Franks service photograph.