Born: 1894, Eccleshill
Died: 2 July 1916, Somme
Buried: Couin Cemetery
Address: 4 Fernhill Road, Shipley (1911)
Parents: David Oldham Nowell & Elizabeth Ann
Spouse:
Siblings: James Kenworthy Nowell & Mary Chloe
Occupation:
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Second Lieut
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Paul’s, Shipley; Bradford Grammar School
Children:
Regiment: West Yorkshire Regt
Francis Percival Nowell
Francis Percival Nowell was born
in Eccleshill in 1894, the younger
son of patent agent David Oldham
Newell and his wife Elizabeth Ann,
nee Kenworthy.
By the time of the 1911 census the
family were living in an eleven-
roomed house at 4 Fernhill Road,
Shipley. 17-year-old Francis was
at Bradford Grammar School while
his older brother, James
Kenworthy Nowell, then 19, was
working as an architect’s assistant.
Their 16-year-old sister, Mary
Chole, is described as at school
but they had a governess living
with them, suggesting she was
being privately educated.
Research by Old Bradfordians
Association Roll of Honour shows
the two brothers signed up at the
outbreak of war but had very
different experiences. James
remained a private throughout and
was discharged in 1919. Francis
was commissioned as a Second
Lieutenant in the Second Bradford
Pals and was in action on the first
day of the Somme.
Most of his platoon was killed. He
was wounded and taken to Couin
where he died the following day,
aged 22.
