WW1 Coventry Post Office Staff War memorial plaque

[martinpowell]

In Coventry central post office there used to be a plaque on the wall dedicated to staff that fell in WW1 and WW2. The plaque has since moved to another office, but i remember being told that my great grandfather Egbert Powell was listed on it as he used to be a postman and died in WW1.

I have never been able to confirm that Egbert worked as a postman but i assume there must be a record or document held somewhere that authorised the memorial and those listed on it. Does anyone have any ideas on where to look for evidence. Some years ago i contacted the post office central records but they could find no records relating to my relation.

[groom]

Ancestry have "British Postal Service Appointment Books, 1737-1969" but I can't see him on that.

[tazzie]

Hi


A newspaper report says he was a watchman at the Rudge-Whitworth works. He was called to the colours on August 4th 1914 .

Tazzie

[Girl Guide]

The 1911 census shows his occupation as vanman for a house furnishing company. 

[tazzie]

There are newspaper interviews that he gave in 1914 when he was sent home wounded after about 10 weeks service with a gunshot wound in his leg.

 Tazzie

[ansteynomad]

Marking my place 

[martinpowell]

Thanks for the replies.

I knew he also worked at Rudge Whitworth as a watchman and have always assumed he had 2 jobs. My grandad had told me that Egbert was a postman and i remember seeing the memorial plaque (i did take a photo of it once but currently cannot find it). I remember it said E.Powell on the memorial so there is a possibility that my grandad got it wrong and it was another Powell, however if i can find info of this memorial in the Post office records then i may be able to conclude if E.Powell was in fact my great grandfather or another Powell.

[groom]

Presumably this is your g grandfather, from Commonwealth War Graves

Egbert Powell
Private
Service  No:8940
Death:03/09/1916 aged:35
Regiment Royal Warwickshire Regiment 16th Bn.
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 9 A 9 B and 10 B. Memorial:THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

 Son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Powell; husband of Jane Elizabeth Powell, of 13, Peel St., Coventry.

If you can find his service records that may tell you his job before he enlisted.

[jim1]

He was called to the colours on August 4th 1914 .

This would indicate he was in the TF as a part-timer or a regular on reserve.
You could look for a pre war service record which would give his occupation at the time.
His WW1 service record seems to be amongst the burnt documents.