A/257124 Pte HWA Abell, Army Service Corps Expeditionary Force Canteens

A/257124 Pte HWA Abell, Army Service Corps Expeditionary Force Canteens

Henry William Albert Abell, a motor driver of 15 Birkbeck Road, Acton, served with the Canteens section of the Expeditionary Force Canteens, Army Service Corps. He was a married man on call-up, being married to Mary Ellen (née Tobin), and having three children. He had formally been a pupil of Saint Mark's National School and in 1911 was employed as a 'mechanical cabman'

He was deemed to have been enlisted for General Service on 24 June 1916, being called up for service and posted to the EFC - for which he had expressed a preference - around 4 November. He was aged 36 at the time, having been born on 23 October 1880, standing 5'6" tall, and medically graded B.i. He was sent overseas remarkably quickly, being sent as a Private to join the BEF in France only five days later, on 9 November 1916. His unit at the time of discharge was ASC/MT, and it seems likely that this is how he was employed throughout his time with the EFC.

He remained in France for the next two years, enjoying a fortnight's furlough to the UK from 10 November 1918, before returning until the end of March 1919. After a month back in the UK he was discharged to the Army 'Z' Reserve via No.2 dispersal unit, Crystal Palace, on 27 April 1919.

His permanent address on discharge was 39 Churchfield Road, Acton, London W3 and his full entitlement was the British War Medal and Victory Medal. By 1939 a taxi driver living on the Fulham Road, he died at Croydon on 27 January 1965, aged 84. His effects were £560.

Name:Henry William A AbellMilitary Year:1914-1920Rank:PrivateMedal Awarded:British War Medal and Victory MedalRegiment or Corps:Army Service CorpsRegimental Number:A/257124Previous Units:R.A.S.C. A/257124 Private.

Name:Henry William Alf AbellGender:MaleBirth Date:23 OctAdmission Date:3 Feb 1890School:St Mark's SchoolFather:Alfred AbellNotes:Non-provided school (0283): previously known as Saint Mark's National School until 1907, (the term National was replaced with Church of England)