Henry Hubert Exell

Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church

Regiment: Royal Engineers

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Pioneer 128427 (Formerly 87561 R.A.S.C.)

Parents: Henry and Evelina Exell

Marital status: Single

Home address: Woodbine Cottage, Crossways, Thornbury, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Grocer

Date of birth: 1892

Place of birth: Thornbury, Bristol

Date of death: 28/04/1918

Buried/Commemorated at: Etaples Military Cemetery

Age: 26

Further information:

Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board

Henry Hubert Exell, usually known as Hubert, was the second son of carpenter Henry Exell who lived just outside the town at Crossways. He had at least four brothers and five sisters

Hubert gave his occupation as grocer when he enlisted in Bristol on 31st August 1914. He was 5 foot 3 inches tall, 113 lbs in weight, with a 34 inch chest, clear complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. According to the local newspaper Hubert served with the Royal Field Artillery and early in his training he received a ‘nasty kick from a horse’. However other records say he was in the Royal Army Service Corps, the unit responsible for logistics, organising transport and the supply of items like food, water, clothing, fuel and military equipment

Hubert was discharged from the army on February 16th 1915 suffering from chronic rheumatism. It was noted that he was ‘Not likely etc’ which usually indicates that he wasn’t likely to be asked to serve any more. However, at some point Hubert re-enlisted and served with ‘M’ Special Company Royal Engineers

Chemical weapons were deployed for the first time during a poison gas attack by the Germans on 22nd April 1915. There was outrage at the use of chlorine, released against defenceless French troops in the Ypres Salient. The Special Companies of the Royal Engineers were formed as a response to this new type of warfare. In the following years, gas and smoke were used both offensively and defensively, delivered by a range of ever more sophisticated techniques. The Pioneers in these special units were sometimes head-hunted from other regiments, if they had the abilities required to deal with scientific equipment and procedures. Perhaps Hubert was not physically strong, but may have demonstrated that he was able to be trained for this specialist work

Hubert sustained an injury at an unknown location. He was brought to Etaples, where there were many Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It is known that in 1917 the hospitals there had the capacity to deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. Hubert died of wounds on 28th April 1918 and was buried in the nearby Military Cemetery used by these hospitals

Hubert’s older brother Edwin is also commemorated on the Thornbury Memorial. It is worth noting that six of Henry and Evelina Exell’s children ‘did their duty’ during WW1. Their sons Albert (Royal Navy) and William (4th Dragoon Guards) survived the war. Two daughters served as professional nurses in an English Hospital in Paris. They also had a niece serving as a VAD and at least eight nephews who were involved in the fighting. Four of these died, either in action or as a result of being wounded, and one was a prisoner of war in Holland

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Thornbury Roots Website; Thornbury & District Museum Research Group