Military Chat

I am trying to find information about my grandfather who was born the last quarter of 1899
He was born in Wandsworth and his mothers maiden name was Newton.

You might be in luck! Upto 70% of WW1 records were destroyed during WW2 bombing. The only problem is that this one says he was born in Newton, Kent

British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920

Name: Herbert Percival Powney
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1900
Birth Place: Newton, Kent, England
Enlistment Age: 19
Document Year: 1919
Regimental Number: 416484
Regiment Name: Machine Gun Corps
Number of Images: 11
Form Title: Short Service Attestation

Family Members:
Name Relation to Soldier
Herbert Percival Powney Self (Head)
Powney Mother

Born at Newton, Lives in Ashford in Kent. Occupation Shop Assistant
Enlisted 25 Jan 1919 - seems to already be a serving soldier in the 18th Batt, Machine Gun Corps. Next image seems to state that he enlisted while in France. His original service was with The Buffs. Date given for that 9 Nov 1914. Surely he would have been underage?
Discharge 4 Jul 1921 having served 6 years 238 days.

Can't see anything that gives his mother (or anyone else) as next of kin.

Here's the earlier conscription records

Name: Herbert Percival Powney
Gender: Male
Document Year: 1914
Residence Place: 165 Newtown, Ashford
Regimental Number: 41468
Regiment Name: Buffs (East Kent) Regiment
Number of Images: 46
Form Title: Territorial Force Attestation

Name Relation to Soldier
Herbert Percival Powney Self (Head

Ah ha! Although still not convinced he's your Herbert Percival Powney from Wandsworth, there is an entry that he was transferred to the UK from Etapes. His date of birth is given as 19 Sep 1899 which coincides with the 4th Q reg you have. They'd discovered he was underage.

Father named as Henry C Powney of Newton, Ashford, Kent
He was a Sergeant & a reliable NCO when he was eventually discharged

On 21 May 1921, he gave his permanent address as
62 St Thomas St, Charmount Halifax.
He was 21 last birthday.

Ancestry is linking his service record to this 1911 census.

Herbert Percival Powney
Age in 1911: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1900
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Battersea, London, England
Civil Parish: Penge

County/Island: Surrey
Country: England
Street address: 41 Crampton Rd, Penge
Registration district: Croydon
Registration District Number: 39
Sub-registration district: Penge
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Household schedule number: 117
Piece: 3409
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Charles Powney 44
Mary Ann Powney 46
Julia E Sutton 40
Henry Charles Powney 19
Lilian Emma Powney 18
Herbert Percival Powney 11
Alfred Edward Powney 8
Robert Frank Powney 7
Albert Stanley Powney

No one says they were born in or near Ashford.

One of the images on the Service records asks for a character reference as he was applying for a position with the Post Office

British Postal Service Appointment Books, 1737-1969
Name: Herbert P Powney
Date Appointed: Jul 1932
Place Appointed: Halifax
Position, Postman

Would this be his marriage?
Dorothy V Lancaster
Registration Date: Apr-May-Jun 1921
Registration district: Halifax
Inferred County: Yorkshire West Riding
Spouse: Herbert P Powney
Volume Number: 7b
Page Number: 1526

Death??
Herbert P Powney
Death Age: 63
Birth Date: abt 1899
Registration Date: Dec 1962
Registration district: Halifax
Inferred County: Yorkshire West Riding
Volume: 2b
Page: 580

This might help you decide if the military records are relevant - this is a Henry C Powney in the 1939 register. The place matches with the MR.

Powney Household (6 People)
165 Newtown , Ashford U.D., Kent, England

Add to tree View original image Print
FIRST NAME(S) LAST NAME(S) DOB SEX OCCUPATION MARITAL STATUS SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SUB NUMBER
Henry C Powney 26 Sep 1866 Male Blacksmith (Blind) Retired Widowed 261 6
Alfred E Powney 30 May 1902 Male Oxy Acetylene Welder & Precision Metal Married 261 1
Elsie A Powney 10 Nov 1908 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 261 2
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Ref: RG101/1684D/024/17 Letter Code: DHAT
© Findmypast Ltd

Alfred E Powney is listed in the 1911 census

Welcome to the boards, Susan.

Is it specifically military info you're looking for?

Henry C born 1866 on 1939 register. Must be your Henry's father.


Alfred, who is on the 1939 register -
:
POWNEY, ALFRED EDWARD mms NEWTON
GRO Reference: 1902 S Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 237


and your Henry's birth, just for our reference:

POWNEY, HERBERT PERCIVAL mms NEWTON
GRO Reference: 1899 D Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 668


Parents' marriage:

Marriages Jun 1886 (>99%)
NEWTON Mary Ann Wandsworth 1d 884
POWNEY Henry Charles Wandsworth 1d 884


I don't see any other birth of a Herbert Percival Powney - which isn't surprising.

???

1901


Name: Herbert P Powney
Age: 1
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1900
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Father: Henry C Powney
Mother: Mary A Powney
Birth Place: Clapham, Surrey, England
Civil Parish: Penge

Ecclesiastical parish: St Paul
Town: Penge
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England
Street address:

55 St. Hughs Road

Registration district: Croydon
Sub-registration district: Croydon
ED, institution, or vessel: 098
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 650
Folio: 170
Page Number: 30
Household schedule number: 267
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry C Powney 34 ,,,,,,,,,,,,Blacksmith
Mary A Powney 36
Mabel A Powney 13
Sidney G Powney 11
Henry C Powney 9
Lilian E Powney 8
Ernest J Powney 5
Herbert P Powney 1


The Newtown area of Ashford had a lot of heavy metal work associated with railway locomotives.
Perhaps this prompted the move for a blacksmith ?

POWNEY, HERBERT PERCIVAL (MMN) NEWTON
GRO Reference: 1899 D Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 668


Marriages Jun 1886 (>99%)
NEWTON Mary Ann Wandsworth 1d 884
POWNEY Henry Charles Wandsworth 1d 884

To everyone who has posted there is certainly lots to get my teeth into. Thank you all so much it is very much appreciated.