Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Henry Samuel Ovell was born in the 2nd quarter of 1884 in Dorking to labourer Henry Samuel and Mary Ann Ovell nee Flint.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Stonebridge, Holmwood. Henry was working as a farm labourer and Mary Ann was looking after their children: Henry, William, Lily and Rose.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Henry was a lodger of printer, Richard Harber at 25 Wellfield Road in London. Henry was working as a gardener.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at Castle Cottage, Leigh. Henry snr was working as a cowman and Mary was at home. The household further comprised of their children: gardener Henry, Emily, James and George and Henry snr’s brother James.
Henry married Ethel May Edser on 26th June 1911 at St John’s church in North Holmwood. Ethel lived in North Holmwood, and worked as a nurse. Ethel was born in the 3rd quarter of 1885 in Dorking to gardener Timothy and Sarah, both born in Shere, Surrey.
Henry and Ethel had two children: Ethel M, born in 1912, and Henry, born in 1916 in Sevenoaks, Kent.
Henry enlisted in Edenbridge, Kent into the 8th Battalion, the Royal Sussex Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number G/12422. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Hever, Kent.
Later, he was transferred into the 16th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). His new regimental number was G/40347.
At the time of his death Henry was a Lance Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). His regimental number remained G/40347.
Henry Ovell was killed in an action on 28th November 1917 in Belgium.
His body was exhumed and re-buried at the Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium. The body was identified by discs. His cemetery reference number is: LVIII.A.46. The headstone bears the inscription: “He Sprang to Duty’s Call He Stood the Test.”
Ethel received £6, 10s and 4d on 3rd April 1918 and a further £7 on 21st November 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Ethel May Ovell lived at Thatched Cottage, Hever, Kent.
Ovell Family History
Henry’s father Henry Samuel Ovell Snr was born in the 1st quarter of 1854 in Horne, Surrey to agricultural labourer Samuel, born about 1811 in Surrey and Philadelphia, born about 1817 in North Sussex. Henry was baptised on the 12th of March 1854 at St Mary’s church in Horne. At the time of his baptism the family lived in Horley Borough and Samuel was working as a labourer.
His mother Mary Ann Flint was born in the 1st quarter of 1858 in Mersham, Surrey to agricultural labourer Henry Flint, born about 1834 in Charlwood, Surrey and Hannah Flint, born about 1838 in Newdigate, Surrey.
Henry and Mary married on 9th June 1883 in St John’s church in Redhill, Surrey. At the time of their marriage Henry lived in Dorking and was working as a labourer. Mary lived in Redhill.
Henry Samuel had seven siblings: William, born about 1886; Lily born about 1888; Rose born about 1891; Alice born about 1892 and Emily born about 1895, all in Dorking. James was born about 1898 and George was born about 1900, both in Godalming, Surrey.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Lived | Hever, Kent | |
| Son of | Henry Samuel and Mary Ann (nee Flint) Ovell | |
| Husband of | Ethel May Edser of North Holmwood, Surrey | |
| Father of | Ethel and Henry | |
| Enlisted | Edenbridge, Kent | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion. The Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment | |
| Number | G/40347 | |
| Previous Regiment | 8th Battalion. Royal Sussex Regiment | |
| Number | G/12422 | |
| Date of Death | 28th November 1917 | |
| Place of Death | Passchendaele, Belgium | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 33 | |
| Memorial | Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium |
