The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private F G Exell

Inscription - "HE LIVES FOR EVER"

Private Frank George EXELL, G/529, "C" Company, 6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders, France, 4th May 1917, age 24.

Born Reading, Berkshire, son of Alfred Joseph and Elizabeth Jane Exell, of 17, Mason Street, Reading, Berkshire.

1911 Census - 17, Mason Street, Reading, Berkshire - Alfred Joseph Exell, head, age 43, married, tailor, civil, worker, born Reading, Berkshire; Elizabeth Jane Exell, wife, age 43, married 19 years, 5 children, all still alive, born Barnstaple, Devon; Francis George Exell, son, age 18, single, painters labourer, born Reading, Berkshire; Florence Violet Exell, daughter, age 12, school, born Reading, Berkshire; Elizabeth Daisy Exell, daughter, age 5, school, born Reading, Berkshire; Mabel Dorothy Exell, daughter, age 2, born Reading, Berkshire; Elizabeth Olive Exell, mother, age 81, widow, born Reading, Berkshire.

Enlisted Tonbridge, Kent, age 21 years & 354 days, height 5ft 4 inches, weight 8 stone & 12 lbs, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair. Formerly printer.

Home 31st August 1914 to 31st May 1915; BEF 1st June 1915 to 4th May 1917.

31st August 1914, enlisted; 3rd September 1914, posted 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th November 1915, 37 Field Ambulance sprained ankle; 21st November 1915, rejoined Battalion; 7th February 1917, rejoined Battalion.

3rd July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, Alfred Joseph Exell, 17, Mason Street, Reading; Mother, Elizabeth Jane Exell, 17, Mason Street, Reading; Sisters - Lilian Exell, age 25, 17, Mason Street, Reading; Florence Violet Exell, age 20, 17, Mason Street, Reading; Elizabeth Daisy Exell, age 13, 17, Mason Street, Reading; Mabel Dorothy Exell, age 11, 17, Mason Street, Reading.

Buried at Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, V. D. 8., Arras, Pas de Calais, France.

AWARDS: MM

Commemorated on Tonbridge War Memorial - Tonbridge War Memorial - The original World War I memorial at the Junction of Pembury Road and Quarry Hill. The names were later re-inscribed in the new Memorial Garden in Bradford Street.

From Tonbridge History - Francis George Excell MM was born in reading in 1892, the son of Alfred Joseph and Elizabeth Jane Excell. In 1911 the family were living in Reading but before 1914 Francis moved to Tonbridge to take up employment as a printer. He enlisted on 31st August 1914 as Pte 529 Royal West Kent regiment. He went to France on 1st June 1915 and won the military medal in October 1916 for bravery in the field. He was killed in action on 4th May 1917 he is buried in Faubourg D’Amiens cemetery near Arras.

London Gazette 21st January 1917.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the Field to the under mentioned Ladies, Non-Commissioned Officers and men:

529 Pte F. Excell, Royal West Kent Regiment.

Note; lastname as published in London Gazette and in Tonbridge History is EXCELL but all references should read EXELL.

This page was last updated on 23-Jan-2025.