Thomas Powell was born in London, England, on February 22, 1892, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Powell, of 192 Lochiel Street, Sarnia. At the time of his death, Thomas had one sister, living in Petrolia, and two brothers: Edward who lived in Windsor and Henry who resided in Utterson, Muskoka. Prior to enlisting, Thomas was employed at the Imperial Oil Works and boarded with Mrs. Cameron, of 194 Lochiel Street, Sarnia (the Observer recorded his address as the Union Hotel, Sarnia). He had many friends in Sarnia as well as Forest, where he formerly lived. Among the first to do so, Thomas enlisted September 22, 1914 in Valcartier Camp, Quebec with the 1st Battalion. At the time, he listed his occupation as an ironworker and his marital status as single. Thomas became a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, Western Ontario Regiment, 1st Battalion, with the rank of Private. On April 30, 1915, Thomas Powell would lose his life while fighting during the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium. Thomas Powell would later be officially listed as, Killed in Action. Attack at St. Julien. No record of burial. Twenty-three year old Thomas Powell has no known grave. He is memorialized on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium, Panel 10-26-28. Thomas Powell’s name is also inscribed on the Village of Camlachie’s Memorial.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G