JOHN HAROLD SLADE POWELL
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image courtesy of IWM.
Born: 1882, The Vicarage, Hale, Farnham, Surrey.
Died: 8th February 1915; age 33; Died of Pneumonia at Marazion, Cornwall, after a week of serious illness. John had gone to Cornwall for recuperation, in the hope of an early return to active service after his recovery from being severely wounded in the head by pieces of shell (causing prolonged unconsciousness and loss of memory), at Ennetieve, near Lille on the 20th October, while directing his gunfire from the front; he afterwards carried his Corporal Telephonist, whose leg was smashed in three places, a distance of 300 yards back to the Infantry lines, through heavy shell fire. He returned to England on the 6th November, and was treated at the King Edward VII Hospital, Grosvenor Square.
Ipswich School magazine November 1914 & March 1915
John contracted pleuro-pneumonia on the 1st February and died a week later.
Reported in The Gazette – 2nd September 1900 – Royal Regiment Artillery Gentleman Cadet – to be Second Lieutenant.
Served in the Mohmand Campaign, on the North-west Frontier, in April 1908, receiving the Medal with Clasp.
Went out to France with the 6th Division. He was in the fighting on the Aisne, and in the advance in Flanders.
Attained the rank of Major in October 1914.
Rank: Major
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery, 52nd Battery.
Grave Reference:
K.2.3.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of the Rev. John Powell, of St. Clement’s Rectory, Ipswich; husband of Ghita Belcher (formerly Slade-Powell), of New Place, Ickham, Canterbury.
CENSUS
1891 ‘Woodview’, Westerfield Road, Ipswich.
John was 10 years old and living with his parents & maternal grandmother.
John Powell, 44, a Clerk in Holy Orders, born Worcester, West Midlands.
Annie Powell (nee Slade), 48, born Worcester.
Ann Slade, 67, born Worcester.
2 general domestic servants.
1901 Royal Artillery Barracks, The Barracks, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
John was 20 years old, an Officer ranked Lieutenant of the Royal Field Artillery.
1911 India & Ceylon.
John was 30 years old, he was married and a Captain of the Royal Field Artillery.
John was educated at Ipswich School – entered 1891.
On the 12th October 1907, Bombay, India, John married Ghita Isabel Colchester, born 1882, Ipswich.
Ghita and John had one son:
Jack Harold Slade-Powell, born August 1908, Kanauli, Begal, India.
Soldiers’ Effects to Ghita Isabel Belcher – widow.
John is also remembered on the Chapel war memorial at Ipswich School
John is also remembered on St.Clements Church Ipswich and a private memorial plaque inside the church.
THE GUN-CARRIAGE PASSING THROUGH THE CEMETERY.
THE GUN-CARRIAGE PASSING THROUGH THE CEMETERY.OFFICERS FUNERAL AT IPSWICH
The funeral of the late Major J.H.Slade Powell, younger son of the Rev. John Powell, rector of St. Clement’s, Ipswich, and Mrs. Powell, took place at Ipswich on Thursday week, military honours being accorded. The body was conveyed to Ipswich on Wednesday afternoon escorted by men of the R.F.A., under Second-Lieut. Hudson, to the church, where it remained during the night. The death had created a considerable amount of sympathy in the parish and among the congregation, and the result was that on Thursday many could not gain admission to the church, where the first portion of the service was held. Among those who were present were the Rev. F.H. Nicholls (vicar of St. Mary Quay), the Rev. S. Green (vicar of St. Nicholas), the Rev. W.H.H. Williamson vicar of Holy Trinity), Rev. H.D. Williamson (vicar of St. Margaret’s), the Rev. J. Wood (rector of St. Helen), the Rev. L.J. Thomas (vicar of Swilland), the Rev. G. R. McClenaghan, Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Ransome, Mr. A. Brunt (Missions to Seamen), Miss Coulcher, Mr. R.G. Bennett, the Rev. and Mrs. M.D. Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. A. Sizer, Mr. P. P. Cornell, Mr. F. Cloard, Mr. Guy Bantoft, Mrs. W.R. Elliston, Mr. H.S.B. Jackaman, Mr. Jepson, Dr. and Mrs. W. Staddon, Dr. Fryer and Mr. A.W. Cook (churchwardens), and Messrs. J. Scarlett, F. Newby, E.W. Orvis, G. Gardner, T.B. Bennett, and T.L. Rees. In addition there was a large contingent of officers and men of the Royal Field Artillery, stationed at Ipswich. Major Dailey, Major H.M. Barnes, Capt. Hicks, and Capt. Theobald acted as pall-bearers, whilst the escort and firing party, numbering over 200, were under the command of Capt. Walford, D.S.O., the other officers on duty being Lieuts. W. Kinnard, B. Kinnard, Coulter, Thatcher-Gale, McQueen, and Kempster.
Whilst the congregation were assembling the organist, Miss A.L. Poole, F.G.C.M. (Mrs. Carter) organist of St. John the Baptist played Handel’s “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” Beethoven’s “Funeral March,” Spohr’s “Blest are the departed.” and Chopin’s “March Funebre.” The principal mourners were the Rev. John Powell (father), Mrs. Powell (mother), the Rev. Everard Powell (brother), Mr. C.B. Westley (cousin), Mr. C. J. Stokoe (brother-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. George Colchester of Burwell, and Mr. D. Colchester, and when they had arrived the fully choral service was commenced. The officiating clergy were the Rev. F.L. Schreiber, (Shipbourne), Tonbridge), the Rev. S. Jones (Arundell), former curates of St. Clement’s, the Rev. H. Knight (Thruxton, Hereford), cousin of the deceased, and the Rev. J.F. Page, (curate of St. Clement’s).
First was sung the hymn “Fight the Good Fight,” and then followed Psalm 39, The lesson was read by the Rev. F.L. Schreiber, and the concluding hymn was “My God, My Father, while I Stray.” As the coffin was borne out of the church by six men of the R.F.A. the organist played the “Dead March” in “Saul,” and “O Rest in the Lord.” The funeral cortege passed along the churchyard through two lines formed by the choir, past the firing party drawn up in St. Clement’s Church Lane. The coffin which was covered with a Union Jack, and had on it the deceased officer’s cap and sword and the wreaths of the family, was then placed in a gun-carriage, and the final procession to the Cemetery commenced, the streets being lined with a large number of sympathisers.
At the graveside the remainder of the service was conducted, the committal sentences being pronounced by the Rev. Everard Powell. As the last “Amen” was pronounced the firing party was called to attention, and fired three volleys, at the conclusion of which the bugles sounded the “Last Post.”
There were a large number of beautiful floral emblems from:- “Ghita” Father, Mother and Everard, Mrs. Charles Colchester, Mr. Valentine D. Colchester, Mr. and Mrs. George Colchester, Elsie and John, Auntie Hattie, “From all at The Limes, Downend, Bristol,” the Rev. H.G. and Mrs. Knights (Hereford), Frank and Ada Westley, Officers 1st Brigade R.F.A., “Friends at St. Clement’s,” members of the Old Ipswichian Club, the Rev. F.L. Schreiber, Mrs. J. Patterson Cobbold, Lieut. G.E. Shaw, R.F.A., Mr. and Mrs. A. Sizer, Miss M. Ridley, Mr. H. A. Raffe and family. Mrs Armstrong, Miss Grieg and Lary, Dr. and Mrs. D’Esterie, Mr. and Mrs. Jackaman and family, Miss Hunt, and Mrs. K. J. Badshah.
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