Private John Powis (42205)

10th Bn, The Essex Regiment, 53rd Brigade, 18th Division, B.E.F.

Malvern Commemoration: Malvern Library,

Burial/Commemoration: Berlin South-Western Cemetery

Nature of Death: Died Eastern Germany as a prisoner of war 29/11/1918

Age: 18

Next of Kin: Son of Fanny Powis

Previous Employment: Apprenticed to Messrs Kendall and Co, printers.

On 21st September 1918, John Powis of Ravensdowne, Wilton Road who on the 4th September was reported missing since the 8th August was confirmed as a prisoner of war. At one time he was employed at the Malvern News office, and served his apprenticeship at Messrs Kendall and Co, printer, and joined up aged 18.  He had served overseas initially with the 7th Northamptonshire Regiment (regimental number 47407).  

In the 1911 Census, John Powis is living with his grandparents, Richard and Elizabeth Powis and his mother Fanny Powis at Auberrow in Wellington, Herefordshire.  John is commemorated on the War Memorial at St Laurence’s Church, Canon Pyon.   It is likely that he was lodging in Malvern at the outbreak of the war.

It appears that John Powis was laid to rest in Berlin, and not elsewhere during the war. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives the following information on Berlin South-western Cemetery:

“In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Berlin South-Western was one of those chosen and in 1924-25, graves were brought into the cemetery from more than 140 burial grounds in eastern Germany. There are now 1,176 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated in the Commonwealth plot at Berlin South-Western Cemetery. The total includes special memorials to a number of casualties buried in other cemeteries in Germany whose graves could not be found.”

Malvern News 21/9/18
1911 Census
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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