Favells in Uniform

Private 1909, Cecil Bert Favell, Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Engineers bert.jpg (55491 bytes)

Cecil, or 'Bert' as he was known was originally a territorial and served with the 88th Field Ambulance during the Gallipoli campaign, landing at Suvla Bay. Following the withdrawl from there he spent nearly a year under canvas at Salonika before being transported to France where he served at both Ypres and the Somme. His previous Electrical training caused his transfer into the Royal Engineers.

His ranks during the war ranged through Private, Sapper, Lance Corporal and Driver and his tasks included driving a horse drawn ambulance, riding a motorcycle as a despatch rider and being in charge of a mobile electricity generating station. His war medals reflect his original posting with the RAMC.

Bert is pictured above in his RAMC uniform with tropical shorts and helmet and left in his Royal Engineers overalls.

George was born in Wilden, Bedfordshire in 1884. By the Great War he was living in Hendon, North London where he was employed by Schweppes, the mineral water company. He worked for Schweppes for a full 50 years in all and started before the war as a driver of the horse drawn drays. George is on the left the group photo taken with his RASC pals. They are possibly on a course of instruction in the art of driving judging by the sign writing on the lorry.(Photographs & information courtesy of Dave Valentine, Nottinghamshire)

Sydney served with the 1/4th Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment. He is also recorded as serving under number 203049.

A photograph of Sydney appears in "Berkshire & the War" a contemporary publication, published in many parts by The "Reading Standard", each priced at 3d.

Born in Yorkshire in 1891, Herberts parents were originally from Midloe, Bedfordshire. Herbert joined the Seaforth Highlander and later served with the Machine Gun Corps. He was discharged from the army in 1920 with a pension for 20% disability caused by his service.

Son of Henry and Susan Lavinia Favell of Hemingford Grey and born in 1882, on the birth of a daughter in May 1916 his occupation is listed as 'carter', but by the birth of another daughter in May 1918 his occupation is listed as soldier, by which time he would have been 36 years old. Isaac also served as Private 483513 in the Labour Corps and was 3 times posted to France. The family photograph (right) was taken with his wife and all five of his daughters just before his third posting. Photo & info courtesy of John Tiller.

Ernest Favell - Sapper - Royal Engineers (brother of Isaac above) of Thrapston Road, Brampton, Hunts. “Joining in October 1916, he was engaged on important duties at home until in April 1918, when he succeeded in obtaining a transfer to the Western Front. Whilst serving in that theatre of war he took part in severe fighting engagements in the Somme and Cambria sectors. He was demobilised in May 1919, and holds the General Service and Victory medals”. Ernest also served under service numbers 526355 and WR/150122 as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers and also as Private 225856 in the Northamptonshire Regiment.

66909 Private Arthur Favell, Royal Fusiliers. Arthur served in the 33rd 'Labour' Batalion, and later as Private 420076, Labour Corps. Arthur had the dubious distinction of serving with the labour corps while on a suspended prison sentence following a charge of bigamy. He completed his sentence after the war and then lived the rest of his life under the assumed name of Walter Scott. A larger than life character and huge Derby County fan who loved football, gambling, the dogs and ran several pubs. He is pictured in 1917 with his 'second wife' and daughter.

From The National Roll of the Great War: - Favell G, Sergeant-Major Bedfordshire Regiment. He volunteered in August 1914, and was drafted to the Western Front and fought in the battles of Ypres, Loos and the Somme, where he was wounded. After his recovery he was in action at Arras and Cambrai and in various subsequent engagements. During his service in France he acted for a time as an instructor, and after hostilities were concluded he proceeded to India, where he was employed on special duites at various garrison outposts, and in 1920 was still serving there. He holds the 1914 Star, and the General Service and Victory medals. 12 Barrow Path, Leighton Buzzard.

Great War medal pictured left as awarded to Albert Favell of the Royal Army Service Corps.

Photo right is possibly G Favell but this is not confirmed. The photograph is from a collection of Favell family photographs and appears to be the correct regiment from the cap badge.

Private 6503 Walter Jago Favell, 1st Battalion, 21st Reinforcement, Australian Expeditionary Force.

A contractor from Arncliffe, New South Wales, Walter was 37 years old when he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic in October 1916, headed for Plymouth. He was sent to France in February 1917 and was wounded in action on the Western Front in early October the same year when he suffered a shell wound to his left thigh and cheek. He rejoined his unit in late Novemebr 1917 where he remained until the end of the war when he returned to Australia aboard Aeneas, embarking 31st May 1919 and ariving in Melbourne 12th July. He was discharged in August 1919 and was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He lived to the age of 81 and is buried in Moonbi Cemetery, New South Wales.

Portrait of Walter Jago Favell (right) courtesy of Helen Favelle, Sydney Australia

593 Sapper Norman Favell, Royal Engineers, who also served under service number 470141

F W Favell - Suffolk Regiment of High Street, Hemingford Grey "volunteered in December 1914, and, after a course of training at Colchester, was four months later sent to the Western Front. There he experienced fierce fighting in many important engagements including the Battles of Ypres, Loos, the Somme, Arras and Cambria. He served in France until February 1919, when he was demobilised, holding the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory medals".

3/556 Private H Favell - Grenadier Guards of High Street Hemingford Grey listed in the 'National Roll of Honour'. His entry states that he "joined in 1916, and was drafted overseas in the following year. During his service on the Western Front he was in action in the Battles of Ypres, Lens, the Somme and Amiens and in numerous other engagements of importance. At the close of hostilities he proceeded into Germany with the Army of occupation, and served on the Rhine until demobilised in 1919. He holds the General Service and Victory medals." Harry would have been only 16 years old when he joined up and probably following the example of his older brother George who joined up at the same age two years previously.

Corporal H G Favell - 5^th Northants Regiment of Alliston's Gardens, Northampton. "At the outbreak of War in 1914 he volunteered, and in the following year embarked for France. On that front he saw heavy fighting in the Armentieres sector , and took an active part in the Battles of Ypres, Festubert, Loos, the Somme, Arras, Passchendaele and Cambria, and was gassed in 1917. Demobilised in March 1919 he holds the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals”.

Elijah Favell, 1/5^th Bedfordshire Regiment (brother of George of Barrow Path Leighton Buzzard whose photo appears further above). A brick maker who joined the Bedfordshire territorials in June 1914 and by August 1914 was a private in the 1/5^th Bedfordshire Regiment. He served in Egypt, took part in the 3 battles of Gaza and was severely wounded in 1917. After his recovery he was present at the capture of Jerusalem.

Private 14237 James Favell, MM, 7^th Bedfordshire Regiment who also served as Private 95450, 11^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. James is included in an announcement in the London Gazette, 16^th November 1917 for the award of the Military Medal and is listed as being of Clapham, Bedfordshire. The Leighton Buzzard Observer lists a James Favell of Chapel path as a drummer in the Bedfordshire Regiment. This is probably the same person, but for some reason there is no mention of his Military Medal.

22173 Corporal Lawrence Favell, 7^th battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. A Roll of Honour and casualty list of Officers, NCO's and Men lists Lawrence as wounded by shell fire on the 6^th April 1918.

Captain Richard Vernon Favell, originally serving as Lieutenant and one time as acting Major. Serves in the Royal Army Medical Corp and also the Royal Artillery. Sir D Haig's despatch of 8^th November 1918 submitting names deserving of special mention includes "Royal Army Medical Corps, Favell, Capt (A/Major) R. V. 1/1^st West Riding Regiment, Field Ambulance", so I presume this counts as 'mentioned in despatches'.

17984 Sapper Charles J Favell, 15^th Field Company Royal Engineers also served with service numbers 343678 and 1855258

18097 Corporal Frank Edward Favell, Signal Squadron, Cable Section, Australian Forces. A boilermaker from Sydney, New South Wales and the son of William Edward Favell of St Peters, sydney. frank was 20 years old when records show his units departure from Melbourne aboard Transport A30 Borda on 22nd December 1914. At this point his rank was Sapper and he was part of the Signal Company Engineers Reinforcement 1. It is possible that Frank was returned home on leave, or possibly wounded at some point as he is recorded again when his unit embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Port Sydney on 9th May 1917. At this point he was listed witht he rank of Corporal. He was to return to Australia on 12th July 1918.

2643 Private Albert Edward Favell, 30th battalion, 5th Reinforcement, Australian Forces. A Gardener from Arncliffe, New South Wales, Albert enlisted in January 1916 at the age of 23. He embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT A171 Nestor in April 191 and returned to Australia in May 1919.

465 Driver Alfred Favell, Royal Field Artillery also served under service number 890034

M1/7702 Staff Sergeant Albert Lemuel Favell, 1stIndian Cavalry Supply Column 82^nd Company, who also served as 2^nd Lieutenant in the royal Army Service Corps

2539 Lance Corporal Archibald J Favell, 2^nd London Regiment, who also served under service number 230683

33746 Private Albert Edward Favell, The Queens Regiment, who also served as 66216 Private, Labour Corps

12491 Driver Arthur Favell, Royal Field Artillery, who also served as Driver 184686 Royal Garrison Artillery

14904 Private Ernest Favell, Yorkshire Regiment who also served as 196601 Private, Royal Horse Artillery

38814 Private E J Favell, East Surrey Regiment who also served as Private 5999980, Essex Regiment

Second Lieutenant Francis Herbert Favell, Royal Flying Corps, who also served in the 3^rd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers

350737 Private Frederick Favell, Essex Regiment, who also served as Private 573559 Labour Corps

2184 Acting Sergeant Henry Favell, Royal Field Artillery, also served under service number 836025 RFA

60283 Private Herbert Favell, Labour Corps, who also served as Private 28121 Hampshire Regiment

203606 Private John Favell, North Staffordshire Regiment, who also served as Private 56110 Royal Berkshire Regiment

204641 Private John Favell, 2^nd London Regiment, who also served with the 34^th London Regiment

10450 Private Thomas Favell, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, who also served as Private 85262 Royal Defence Corps

87918 Gunner William Favell, Royal Garrison Artillery, who also served in the 8^th London Regiment

49660 Private William Favell, Leicestershire Regiment who also served as Private 31777 York and Lancaster Regiment

27330 Corporal William E Favell, Worcestershire Regiment, who also served as Corporal 128497 Royal Engineers