Percy Charles Powell (1906 - 1986)

Born 30 May 1906 in Norton, Shifnal, Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Florence Jane (Crampton) Powell — married 1930 in Tingha, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 26 Jun 1986 at age 80 in Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Percy Powell was born in Shropshire, England.

Percy Powell was an Assisted Immigrant to New South Wales.

Percy Powell is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Percy Charles Powell was born on 30 May 1906. ^{[1] [2]} His birth was registered in Shifnal, Shropshire in the third quarter of 1906.^[3]. He was the 11th of 12 children in his family born to John and Harriet Powell (nee Norgrove). ^[4]

His father, John, died in a workplace accident when Percy was just 2 years old ^[5] At the time the family home was in a village called Norton, midway between Shifnal and Bridgnorth, in a crowded four-room house at 21 Village Road. In the 1911 census, Percy was living here with his mother and seven other siblings ^[4] Percy grew up during World War One, being aged 8 years old when it was declared, and would likely have memories of many men of the Village being conscripted, an influx of Belgian refugees, and women, such as his mother Harriet raising funds and relieving men from their occupations. ^[6] From 1918-1919, when Percy was aged 13, the Spanish Flu was causing havoc across the globe including in England, where about one-quarter of the population infected, with impacts felt most seriously by those aged 20 to 40. ^[7] When the 1921 English Census is released in early 2022, more information will be available 14-year old Percy ^[8]

In 1924, when Percy was unemployed, aged 17, and living in what appears to be a workers cottage on Chapel Lane in Quatford, he made the decision to migrate alone to New South Wales, leaving his family behind in England. He departed London on 24 Apr on the SS Berrima arriving in Sydney ^[9]as a farmhand apprentice, assisted by the New South Wales State Immigration Department. He was sent to a rural area as a part of a group of desirable immigrants, strong and Intelligent ^[10]

No information has been located on exactly where he was sent for his apprenticeship, however, six years later, in 1930, he married Florence Crampton at Tingha in New South Wales ^[11]. In the same year, they would have their first child Angeline (Queenie).

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave memorial for Percy Charles Powell (30 May 1906–26 Jun 1986): accessed 15 April 2020; citing Glen Innes General Cemetery, Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia
2. ↑ National Archives of Australia; Canberra, Australia; Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947; Series: B883 cited in Ancestry.com. Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945 [database on-line] Name: Percy Charles Powell Birth Date: 30 May 1906 Birth Place: Shrewsbury England Year Range: 1939 - 1948 Enlistment Place: Tamworth New South Wales Service Number: NX41168 Next of Kin: Florence Powell Series Description: B883: Army, 2nd Al F
3. ↑ General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England cited in FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line] Name: Percy Charles Powell Registration Year: 1906 Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep Registration district: Shifnal Inferred County: Shropshire Volume: 6a Page: 599
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK Class: RG14; Piece: 15999; Schedule Number: 21 cited in Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census [database on-line]. Name: Percy Powell Age in 1911: 4 Estimated birth year: abt 1907 Relation to Head: Son Gender: Male Birth Place: Norton, Shropshire Civil Parish: Stockton County/Island: Shropshire Country: England Street address: 21 Village Road, Norton, Shifnal Registration district: Shifnal Registration District Number: 347 Sub-registration district: Albrighton ED, institution, or vessel: 7 Household Members: Harriet Powell 44 William Powell 20 Thomas Powell 18 Alfred Powell 16 Mable Powell 13 Elizabeth Powell 11 Samuel Powell 6 Percy Powell 4 George Powell 2
5. ↑ General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England cited in FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 [database online] Name: John Powell Estimated Birth Year: abt. 1856 Registration Year: 1909 Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Age at Death: 53 Registration district: Shifnal Inferred County: Shropshire Volume: 6a Page: 464
6. ↑ Shropshire in the First World War (n.d.) Norton in Hales Accessed 26 Apr 2021
7. ↑ Johnson, Ben (n.d) The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 Historic UK Accessed 27 Apr 2021
8. ↑ The National Archives (2019, 27 Feb)Contract awarded to publish the 1921 Census online Accessed 27 Apr 2021
9. ↑ Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27. Records of the Commercial, Companies, Labour, Railways and Statistics Departments. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England; cited in Ancestry.com. UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line] Name: Percy C Powell Gender: Male Age: 17 Birth Date: abt 1907 Departure Date: 24 Apr 1924 Port of Departure: London, England Destination Port: Sydney, Australia Ship Name: Berrima Search Ship Database: Search for the Berrima in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping Line: Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co Official Number: 135332 Master: Captain E M Hussey-Cooper
10. ↑ The Sun (Sydney, NSW: 1910 - 1954) Mon 16 Jun 1924 Page 9 FARM HANDS - Arrival in Sydney By the P & O Branch liner Berrlma, which reached Sydney today, 37 farm-hand apprentices arrived. They will be sent to the country by the State Immigration Department. The Welfare Officer (Mr. Wilson) stated that the boys were all desirable immigrants, strong and Intelligent. Several of them possess considerable experience In farming. In addition to the farm-hand apprentices, there were 69 nominated passengers aboard, and 73 fully paid passengers. The voyage was uneventful.
11. ↑ New South Wales Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Marriage Certificate 1082/1930 Groom: POWELL, PERCY C Bride: CRAMPTON, FLORENCE J District: TINGHA

• Glen Innes Examiner (NSW: 1908 - 1954) Sat 13 Jul 1940 Page 4 More Recruits for the AIF Since the last list was published the following; have made application through the Iocal recruitment depot for enlistment with the A.I.F. McINNES, Edward Ernest. Guyra; WALSH, Ernest Harold, Gough St., Deepwater; GARLAND, Joseph Ignatius. Guyra; POWELL, Percy Charles, Backwater; HAYMAN, William, Glen Innes; SLEE, Claude Stanley. Glen Innes; SLEE, Charles Henry, Furracabad Road. Glen Innes.
• National Archives Australia: 4898995
• New South Wales War Memorials Register Private Percy Charles Powell Memorial Name: Glen Innes Cemetery Memorial Wall Given name: P C Family name: Powell Gender: Male Service number: NX41168 Conflicts: Second World War, 1939–45 Unit at embarkation: 2/4th Pioneers Battalion Service: Australian Army
• Glen Innes Examiner Wed 21 Jan 1948 Page 2 Trespass Notice All persons found trespassing from this date, 21st. January, on the properties known as 'Oakley,' 'Claremount,' 'Pig Mountain,', and 'Deep Gully' will be prosecuted. All persons wishing to- travel stock must have written permission' or give 24 hours notice if travelling on the surveyed road. (Signed) PERCY C. POWELL, M. JUDGE.
• Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales Fri 25 Jul 1958 [Issue No.72] Page 2217 Extension of terms of conditional leases IT is hereby notified that the terms of the undermentioned Conditional Leases have been extended to leases in perpetuity. W. M. GOLLAN, Minister for Lands [...] Land District—Glen Innes; Shire—Severn Parish Kingsgate, county Gough; Conditional Lease 1919-2, portion 140, of 198 acres; holder, Percy Charles Powell. Ten. 58-4,749.'
• Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales Fri 4 Dec 1959 [Issue No.139] Page 3761 Extension of terms of conditional leases IT is hereby notified that the terms of the undermentioned Conditional Leases have been extended to Leases in Perpetuity. JOHN McMAHON, Minister for Lands. Land District—Glen Innes; Shire—Severn Parish Kingsgate, county Gough; Conditional Lease 1920-1, portion 142, of 300 acres 2 roods; holder, Percy Charles Powell. Ten. 59-7281