Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MC

Major Vernon Harcourt Powell MC in the Great War

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Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MC suffering from delayed onset of PTSD, successful on his second attempt to take his life during his second tour of the Western Front.

Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MC Appleby College Archives
Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MC Appleby College Archives

Vernon Powell born 23 January 1886 in Little Shelford, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Son of the late Rev. Harcourt Powell, of Wollaston Vicarage, Wellingborough, Northants, and Cecile H. Powell, Coventry, England.

Appleby Dramatic Club

Powell one of a small group of teachers founding Appleby in September 1911, and proved to be an extraordinarily popular and respected presence. During his three-year tenure, the first Housemaster in the McCraney house, which came to be known as Powell’s, and the originator of the Appleby Dramatic Club. He also directed All in Vain, 27 March 1912, the school’s first play.

Powel had entered College in Michaelmas Term, 1905. Aegr. Hist., 1909; B.A., 1910. A member of the University Contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps.

Tutor in Russia, Powell left Appleby in 1914 to join a cavalry regiment, but soon transferred to the Canadian Field Artillery. Vernon, a fine horseman, owned a seventeen-hand hunter he named Yeoman.

3404408 M-541E Canadian Artillery Training in England, Witley Camp. Training their horses Major Vernon Harcourt Powell
Canadian Artillery Training in England, Witley Camp. Training their horses. MIKAN No. 3404408

Lieutenant Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell

Enlistment on 5 January 1915, Toronto, Ontario with the 15th Overseas Battery. At this time, 27 years, 11 months of age standing 5′ 8″ tall, 156 pounds, with dark complexion blue eyes, and black hair.

3522761 M-309 PA-004917 Mayor of Toronto welcoming 53rd Battery C.F.A. after their training at Kingston Major Vernon Harcourt Powell
Mayor of Toronto welcoming 53rd Battery C.F.A. after their training at Kingston. MIKAN No. 3522761

Previous service with 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, Oxford University OTC, 9th Mississauga Horse.

15th Battery, 4th Brigade, CFA.

Organized in November 1914 under the command of Major L E H Irving. Mobilized at Toronto and also recruited from the 4th Field Battery (Hamilton) and the 9th Field Battery (Toronto) Non-Permanent Active Militia. Left Montreal 28 May 1915 aboard NORTHLAND, and later arrived in England 8 June 1915 with a strength of 5 officers, 151 other ranks.

3404395 M-541A Canadian Artillery Training in England, Witley Camp. Observing and signalling the effects of the firing
Canadian Artillery Training in England, Witley Camp. Observing and signalling the effects of the firing. MIKAN No. 3404395

Arrived in France 15 September 1915 with the 4th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery and later transferred to 6th Brigade 22 May 1916. Increased to 6 gun battery later on 19 March 1917 by addition of right section from 28th Battery.

Lieutenant Powell sailed to England on 20 June 1915.

Lt Vernon Harcourt Powell’s First Tour

Proceeded overseas 12 October 1915, 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.

3404412 M-541B Canadian Artillery Training in England, Witley Camp. Firing with gas masks on
3404412 M-541B Canadian Artillery Training in England, Witley Camp. Firing with gas masks on

Lieutenant Powell granted leave from 19 to 27 February 1916.

Captain Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell

Promoted Temporary Captain on 10 April 1916, London Gazette No. 29626, 16 July 1916.

Battle of Flers-Courcelette

GOC of the 2nd Division awards Powell the Military Cross, London Gazette 7 October 1916.

The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which took place 15-22 September 1916, was an attempt by the British Corps to alleviate pressure on the Verdun Salient. The Canadian Corps, commanded by Sir Julian Byng, contributed two infantry divisions on the left of the attack. The first use of tanks occurred during this battle.

Powell awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at the Battle of the Somme, where wounded. In October 1917, he burnt his hands badly in extinguishing a fire among live shells in a gun-pit, his quick action saving many lives.

For conspicuous gallantry in action. He made a daring reconnaissance under very heavy fire, obtaining most valuable information and displaying great courage and ability throughout.

Supplement to The London Gazette, 16 November 1916

Captain Powell wounded severely during the Battle of Flers-Courelette. Admitted to Duchess of West. Hosp., Le Touquet, GSW, right thigh, severe, 10 October 1916.

To England

Kitchener Hospital, Brighton, 13 October 1916. Medical board states his wounds healed, attached to 4th Canadian Divisional Artillery, Witley, 4 December 1916. ToS 53rd Battery, 13th Brigade CFA, later on 8 December 1916.

Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MC

To be Temporary Major, 22 January 1917, London Gazette No 30065, 30016.

Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MCpromotion
Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MC promotion

Transferred to 53rd Battery, 24 April 1917.

Major Vernon Harcourt Powell
13th Artillery Brigade, C. E. F., 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd Batteries Ammunition Column, May 1916. MIKAN No. 4473298

53rd Battery, 13th Brigade

Organized in January 1916 initially under the command of Captain Frank G Grierson. Mobilized at Kingston, and recruited from aquatic clubs in Toronto. Nucleus formed by personnel left in Canada when 34th Battery left for England.

Major Vernon Harcourt Powell
53rd Battery, Major Appleby front and centre. MIKAN No. 4473298

Left Halifax 19 September 1916 aboard OLYMPIC, later arriving in England 25 September 1916. Absorbed part of 50th Battery on 22 January 1917 when battery was increased from four guns to six, and later arrived in France 21 August 1917 with the 13th Brigade, 5th Canadian Divisional Artillery.

Major Vernon Harcourt Powell’s Second Tour

Major Powell proceeded overseas for his second tour on 10 August 1917. Only a month later, wounded (hand) and remained at duty, 10 September 1917.

Powell’s physical injuries may have healed, but his experience on the Somme begins to trouble him some time during time in training. He proceeds to 5th Corps School, Boulogne, later on 27 October 1917.

1918-February 3404871 O-2522 Canadian Detonating Mills' bombs in reserve line
1918-February 3404871 O-2522 Canadian Detonating Mills’ bombs in reserve line

Mills Bomb in Stove

Still behind the lines at Boulogne, Powell suddenly admitted to No 1 Casualty Clearing Station, multiple wounds, thigh and left leg sustained from explosion of bomb in stove, 7 December 1917.

At 13h00 the sound of an explosion heard in the dugout occupied by Major Powell found suffering from wounds received when a bomb, or some such article, which had apparently been in the coal exploded. Witnesses Bombardier Frank Stanley Lloyd 310785, Gunner John Thetford 207896, and F M Morris, CAMC find Powell lying face down outside the dugout.

PTSD

Alone in the dugout, an investigation determines Powell’s wounding to be accidental, also perhaps not recognizing his first suicide attempt, or not wishing to discredit their commanding officer.

Arriving at Casualty Clearing Station from the Front. October, MIKAN No. 3395813
Arriving at Casualty Clearing Station from the Front. October, MIKAN No. 3395813

Powell admitted to No 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 9 December 1917, and later transferred to Plymouth General Hospital, 15 December 1917. A diagnosis of Shell shock also made.

1917-12-25 3394749 M-396e PA-005065 Views taken on Christmas Day 1917, at Duchess of Connaught Red Cross Hospital, Taplow.
1917-12-25 3394749 M-396e PA-005065 Views taken on Christmas Day 1917, at Duchess of Connaught Red Cross Hospital, Taplow. 3394749

Haemorrhage Syncope

At 4th London General Hospital on 31 December 1917, Powell apparently on his way to recovery, but on 2 January 1918, showing no indication of suicide, he went to the nearby rifle range. After scoring 11 successive bulls, he turned the Winchester rifle upon himself. He died of wounds the same day.

Powell’s medial record soon notes, It has now been ascertained that this officer died from self-inflicted gun shot wound of head whilst of unsound mind -“Haemorrhage Syncope”.

LITTLE SHELFORD (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

Major Vernon Harcourt de Butts Powell MC buried here on 6 January 1918. LITTLE SHELFORD (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

Three Commonwealth burials of the Great War and also one of the Second World War buried at Little Shelford (All Saints) Churchyard.

Grave of Major Vernon Harcourt Powell
Grave of Major Powell

NOW WE SEE

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

BUT THEN FACE TO FACE

1. Cor. XIII. 12

Inscription provided by Mrs Cecile H Powell, 5, Regent Street, Coventry.

Vernon left his mother a $2,000 insurance policy and $413 in cash. He had left an unitelligible letter to his mother, before turning a small-arms Winchester upon himself.

Another tragic story at All Saints

Nurse Beris Seline Frances Burton-Fanning

A nurse burnt to death during the Great World War also buried in Little Shelford Churchyard. Beris Burton-Fanning died in October 1916. According to a death notice held by the Imperial War Museum: ​As the sad result of an, accident, the death occurred last week at Cambridge of Miss Beris Selina Frances Burton-Fanning, a member of the voluntary Aid Detachment working at the 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, and quartered at Selwyn College.

Little-Shelford-All-Saints-Churchyard Major Vernon Harcourt Powell
Little-Shelford-All-Saints-Churchyard

​Whilst talking to a colleague over her fire before going to bed Miss Burton-Fanning discovered that she was in flames. Believed a spark from the fire set her dressing gown alight.​ Daughter of Frederick William and Christabel Eleanor Newel Burton-Fanning of Norwich, Norfolk.

Beris also served at hospitals in Norwich. In 1919, her family also gave £750 to create the Nurses Aid Fund at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to support other nurses in Beris’ memory.

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