Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Henry Pell, an asphalter, born 1863 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire and his wife Emma Pell (nee Clarke, married on the 26th January 1891 in St. Michael’s Church, Stamford, Lincolnshire), born 1869 in Lambeth, Surrey. Bertie Cyril G., was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Bedford, his siblings were, Evelyn Louisa, born 1892, Dorothy Clara, born 1897 and Elsie Diana, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Bedford, in March 1901 the family home was at 7, Britannia Place, St. Mary’s, Bedford. In April 1911 Bertie was employed as a hosiery trade machinist and was residing in the family home at Fleckney Road, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire, together with his father, an asphalter, his mother and siblings, Evelyn, a hosiery trade linker, Elsie, a schoolgirl, Edwin Alfred, born 17th February 1903 in Bedford, Lilian Hattie, born 16th September 1905, John Leslie, born 1908 and Kathleen Marjorie, born 16th August 1910, the latter three siblings were all born in Kibworth Beauchamp.
Bertie died of his wounds after being transferred back to England for treatment at Woolwich Hospital, London. An account in the Leicester Mercury from November 2008 records that his parents were joined by 2000 people on the streets of his home village of Kibworth, for his funeral on the 1st July 1915. Members of the Leicestershire Regiment fired a salute and bugles sounded The Last Post. Work colleagues from the Johnson and Barnes Hosiery Factory, where he used to work, carried Bertie’s coffin, which was draped in a Union flag. Private Pell was the first Kibworth Grammar School boy killed in the war. On the day of the funeral the school closed and all the pupils attended the service. Private Pell’s nephew, Harry Tharp, 73, said his uncle was a much loved man. He said; “Bertie was a Scout and had also been a choirboy.”
Bertie attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 7th August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Bedford, his age as 19 years and 180 days and his trade or calling as hosiery winder. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father George Pell, his mother Emma Pell and brothers Edwin and Leslie, all of Fleckney Road, Kibworth as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6½ inches in height, weighed 104 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30 and 32 inches. His physical development was described as good, his vision was described as 6/6. His hair colour was dark brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 7th August 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 11458 on the 7/8/14. Commenced recruits training on the 7/8/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 13/8/14. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 18/1/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 18/1/15. Admitted to hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the head (slight) on the 12/3/15. Discharged from hospital in Havre on the 19/3/15. Admitted to No.14 General Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound, in the field (back and knee) on the 17/5/15. Transferred to England by Hospital Ship Anglia on the 19/5/15. Posted to the Depot Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/5/15. Died in the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich of wounds received in action on the 26/6/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 17/8/14 – 17/1/15, 164 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 18/1/15 – 18/5/15, 121 days. Home Service, 19/5/15 – 26/6/15, 39 days. Total service 324 days. Bertie was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Bertie’s mother E. Pell on the 28th April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by E. S. B. Fletcher, Clerk in Holy Orders, Kibworth Rectory, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, George Henry Pell of Fleckney Road, Kibworth, Leicester. Mother of soldier, Emma Pell of Fleckney Road, Kibworth, Leicester. Full blood brothers of soldier, Edwin Pell, age 16, Leslie Pell, age 10 and Fred Pell, age 4, all of Fleckney Road, Kibworth, Leicester. Full blood sisters of soldier, Evelyn Pell, age 26 of B Company, Connaught Club, -?- Street, London W. Elsie Pell, age 18, Lilian Pell, age 15 and Kathleen Pell, age 8, all of Fleckney Road, Kibworth, Leicester. Bertie’s surviving service documents are in a poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 15 May-15 - Battalion rested during the day in LANSDOWNE POST. Moved off at 8.00pm. Battalion took over front line from which the assault was to be made and by 9.30pm Companies were in position. Telephonic communication established with left and right and communication by officers ascertained between men on left and 2nd Div on my right. Eleven bridges were placed over the stream which runs parallel to position and about 20 to 30 yards in front of it, there with the existing four bridges made a total of 15 on the Battalion front. It was not possible to place more bridges in position as the stream had been widened at many points by big shell holes, and the trunks and branches of fallen trees also blocked any other places where bridges might have been put. This getting of the bridges into position was an operation of great difficulty on account of the constant flares and bursts of fire from the enemy’s parapet. It was skilfully and quietly done with only two or three casualties. At 10.45pm two platoons were crossed over to the far side of the stream. Four more platoons were formed up ready, in the trenches to go forward and support the leading platoons. The remaining two Companies were formed up lying down behind the parados in close column of platoons ready to advance. Thus the whole Battalion was got into its final position in order of attack and as close up as possible. This final formation was complete by 11.20pm and thanks to the able leading of Company Commanders the movement was carried out in perfect order, and with no noise. At 11.30pm the leading platoons went forward to the assault closely supported by the second line. The lines in rear went forward to take up the positions vacated by the leading line. At the same time, or if anything some seconds before 11.30pm the enemy opened a very heavy fire with rifles and machine guns. A few minutes afterwards trench mortars and shrapnel searched the stream and the ground on both sides of it. The enemy threw from their parapet some kind of fire grenade which burst into fire on impact with the ground, and these with continuous flames of all colours, literally turned night into day. The leading men pushed on but only a few were able to reach near the enemy’s parapet. Each succeeding line came under a very heavy fire, the bridges got so blocked and the obstacles caused by fallen trees and shell holes so impeded movement that effective support could not be given. Thus the impetus of the assault was broken before it really got a proper start. The enemy’s parapet was fully manned and the accuracy and intensity may be understood from the fact that 8 officers, Platoon Commanders were killed or wounded. About 12 midnight reports were received from the front that our attack could not reach the German line, orders were then given to withdraw to our own trenches.
The War Diary records: 16 May-15 - At 2.00am Battalion came back to Guards trench and Reserve trench north of the RUE DU BOIS. 5.00am whole Battalion in reserve trenches just north of RUE DU BOIS. 8.30pm move to CROIX BARBEE.
On Tuesday June 29th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Pell have received news that their son, Pte. B. C. G. PELL, 2nd Leicester’s, aged 20, has succumbed to wounds received in the firing line. Pte. Pell was wounded in the forehead by shrapnel on the 11th April, and after being in hospital at Rouen, recovered and went back into the firing line, but on May 16th received shrapnel wounds, this time in the knee, which despite many operations have caused his death. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents. Deceased was very popular at the Young Men’s Institute, and was also an enthusiast where Kibworth football was concerned.
On Saturday 3rd July 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “Military Funeral at Kibworth.” – On Thursday afternoon the remains of the late Private B. C. C. Pell, 2nd Leicester’s, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Pell, Fleckney-road, who succumbed on Saturday last at Woolwich Hospital to wounds received in action, were interred in the cemetery at Kibworth. The deceased was greatly respected, and fully two thousand people witnessed the ceremony, which was performed by the Rector, Rev. E. S. B. Fletcher, M.A. The coffin, which was covered with a Union Jack, was borne by four workers from Messrs. Johnson and Barnes’ hosiery factory, where Private Pell had worked prior to joining the Army at the commencement of the war, and the factory was closed as a mark of respect. The mourners were the father and mother (Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Pell), Eva, Elsie, Lily, and Leslie and Eddie (brothers and sisters), Miss Pell, Mrs. Neal, and Mrs. Spencer. The floral tokens were numerous. The funeral procession was headed by a firing party of twelve soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Leicester’s from Glen Parva Barracks, together with Drummer Sharp (all of whom have been wounded during the war), under the command of Sergeant Major Read (who resided at Kibworth prior to rejoining his regiment), and Sergeant Sands, and after the coaches followed the members of the Training League, under Commandant White. The first part of the service was conducted in the Parish Church, which was crowded. As the cortege entered Mrs. E. V. Phillips played “O’ rest in the Lord,” and on leaving “The dead march” was played. At the cemetery the procession was led to the graveside by the local troop of Boy Scouts with their banners, under Patrol Leader J. Adams, Private Pell at one time having been a member of this corps. After the service the firing squad fired three volleys and the bugler sounded the last post. The deceased had been a choir boy at the Parish Church and was also an old Grammar School boy, and the first old schoolboy to fall in the war. The Grammar School was closed and the scholars were all present at the ceremony. In the evening a muffled quarter peal of grandaire triples was rung on the church bells in memory of Private Pell by the following members of the Midland Counties Ringers’ Association:- E. Leach (treble), J. Waterfield (2), J. T. Taylor (3), W. N. Adkinson (4), J. Bolton (5), D. Iliffe (6), F. Staniforth (conductor, 7) and W. Bolton (tenor).