PANNELL, Valentine Arthur


No.G/15774, Lance Corporal, Valentine Arthur PANNELL
Aged 23


11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
formerly 688, Army Cyclists Corps
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 31st July 1917


Valentine Arthur Pannell was born in Stoke by Clare on 14th February 1895 (Risbridge Q2-1895 4A:739), baptised in St John the Baptist, Stoke by Clare on 23rd May 1895, son of Walter and Susanna PANNELL (née PLAIL) maybe PLAYLE.


Admitted to Stoke by Clare National/Voluntary School in March 1898.

1901 census...Aged 6, he was at "The Five Bells", Stoke by Clare with his father Walter PANNELL [53] publican born Toppesfield, Essex; his mother Susannah [48] born Ridgewell; brother Randall [13] born Stoke by Clare, sister Elsie [9] born Stoke by Clare.

1911 census...Aged 16, an apprentice ironmonger, he boarding at 27 High Street, Halstead with ironmonger's manager George Morgan CHAPPELL. His parents and sister Elsie were at The Green, Stoke by Clare. His mother had borne 13 children, but 5 had died.


He enlisted in Brentwood.
The war diary has:-
Hilltop - 31st -Fairly quiet night. Bombardment continued till 1 hr before zero. All received hot meals and ready for attack by 2 am. Barrage and attacks commenced at 3:50 am. Hostile barrage opened on front line and ? Trench 1 hour before. Attack progressed well - yellow, red and blue lines being taken with few casualties. Bgde HQ moved in German second line in dugouts. During afternoon 2 Companies moved up into close support of 14th Hants, Black line in anticipation of counter-attacks - nothing happened. Enemy shelling persisted all night. 2 Lt Collyer killed, 2 Lt Tice A.Capt Allen wounded and about 150 casualties amongst O.R.. Battle still continuing.

CWGC puts the deaths at 28.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Valentine Pannell is buried in Duhallows A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres, grave 1:A:45
and commemorated on the war memorial at St. Andrew's Church, Halstead

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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