Blackmore. Remembering Walter Ovel

Walter Ovel

War Memorial: Place and inscription -

Rank: Private

Regiment: Essex Regiment. 1st Battalion. Service No. 8205 [CWGC]

Service Details: Born: Blackmore Lived: South Weald Enlisted: Warley [source: Essex Regiment Museum database] Medal card: I/Essex R P/E 8205 died 8/8/15 Victory/British K/2/102 B/2 p. 85 15 star K/2/8B p. 30 First theatre [2B] Balkans 25/4/15.  No contact address [Ancestry.com]

Personal and family information: Walter Ovel was baptised at Blackmore on 14th September 1884 (born 2/4/1884). His parents were William and Ellen Jane Ovel [D/P 266/1/11]. The family does not appear in the Blackmore or High Ongar census for 1891. In 1901 Walter Ovel, aged 17, appears on the High Ongar census at Passlow Hall as a Servant with occupation as “Cowman of Farm”. Born “Blackmore”. In 1911 Walter Ovel (born “Orger Essex” – Ongar, aged 27) was serving as a Private in B Company of the 1st Essex Regiment in Quetta, Baluchistan, India. Lived South Weald.   Next of Kin: No [CWGC]

Date of Death: 8th August 1915

Age: “No”

Where died: Wounded Gallipoli 28.4.1915. Died Egypt 8.8.1915. Disease [source: Essex Regiment Museum database] Many of those recorded at Chatby were lost when hospital ships or transports were sunk in the Mediterranean, sailing to or from Alexandria. Others died of wounds or sickness while aboard such vessels and were buried at sea.  [CWGC]

Place of Burial or Commemoration: Memorial: IWG Egypt 6 (Chatby) War Cemetery and War Memorial Cemetery [source: Essex Regiment Museum database] Remembered at Alexandria  (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.  Theatre of war Austria. [CWGC]

List of Sources: Ancestry.com, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Essex Record Office, Essex Regiment Museum