Current Information:

Enlisted-Kennington

Bethune Town Cemetery, France

On 17th May, 1915 the 24th London battalion of 142 Brigade, 47th Division moved into trenches into trenches at Cuinchy where they remained until relieved on 20th May. William Powell died from wounds on 19th May but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.