Recollections of the Great War, by Walter Powell

Published in the Llandrindod, Cefnllys and Disserth Church Magazine in a November issue during the 1980s. These record Walter Powell's repeated attempts to join-up under-age, as well as his friends' attempts - some of them successful; also how he finally managed to join-up by trying a recruiting office away from home - after all his friends and his brothers were in the army. Also described is his work as a despatch rider in France. Part of a collection relating to Walter H. Powell, Llandrindod Wells, (private / driver M2-267205 Mechanised Transport Army Service Corps). Born 1898, Walter tried to join up under-age on a number of occasions, finally succeeding in 1916. He served many months - (more than 2 years?) - in different army units in Britain, before going over to France. He served as a despatch rider for an anti-aircraft battery in 1918-1919. Walter was gassed "suffering the effects all his life". He was a founder member of Toc-H in Llandrindod, and a keen footballer - he died in 1994 aged 96. However Walter's older brothers (Cliff and Percy Powell) and his uncle (Humphrey Powell) died of wounds sustained during the war.