Charles William Fewell was born and raised in Chelmsford, working for a printer before the war. He married in 1914 and had two children. He was killed near Ypres in January 1918, shortly after being recommended for an officer’s commission, when a shell struck his dug-out. His parents’ home was in Upper Bridge Road. His brother was also killed during the war.

The Supplement to the London Gazette dated 28th January 1918 announced the award of the Military Medal to him. Charles was also entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

On 15th February 1918 the Essex Weekly News carried the following report:

“Sergt. C. Fewell, Essex Regt., of Upper Bridge-rd., Chelmsford, and formerly employed at the office of Mr. J. Dutton, Tindal-st., Chelmsford, has been killed by a shell which blew in his dug-out which he and an officer were occupying beside the machine huns.

Capt. J. S Husband, writing to Mrs. Fewell, says:

‘Men eager to help at once started to dig the unfortunate officer and sergeant out. We got your husband free as soon as possible, but he was past all help. The shock of the explosion and the crushing which he received rendered him unconscious from the first. Everyone in the Company mourns his loss, for he was an excellent soldier and companion. When he joined my Company I at once recognised in him a non-commissioned officer whose efficiency and ability were much above the average. It is just about seven weeks ago that I had the pleasure of recommending him for a commission. To have had him with me as an officer would have been a great pleasure to me.

The G.O. commanding the Brigade expressed his regret at the death of so gallant and promising a soldier, for he had forwarded his commission papers with his recommendation. I cannot tell you how much I regret his loss, but to me he was the ideal of sergeants, efficient in instruction, patient with difficult men, gallant and resourceful in the field. I was proud to recommend him for the Military Medal for his prompt action when his officer had been killed during an engagement not far from the scene of his gallantry where he fell.’

Deceased is the second son of his parents have lost in the war,  while the father and three sons are serving in the Army.”

1899, died 1974), John Fewell (born in 1901, and christened at St. John’s Church, Moulsham on 15th August 1901), Percy Fewell (1903-1985), Alice Mary Fewell (born in 1905) and Albert Alfred Fewell (1911-1963).

For each of the christenings Charles’ father was either a tanner or leather finisher, except for that of John Fewell when he was simply a labourer.

The 1901 census found nine year-old Charles living with his parents and six siblings living at 8 Wolseley Road, Chelmsford. His father was a millwright, who by 1910 was living at 30 Regina Road, Chelmsford. It was there that the 1911 census found Charles’ parents and eight siblings, At the time his father was a pipe fitter at Hoffmann’s ball-bearings factory in Chelmsford. His sister Maud was a laundry maid at the Model Steam Laundry; brother James was a car man in a laundry; brother Henry was a telegraph messenger boy for the Post Office; and brother Bertie was a mitre boy at Crompton’s electrical engineers in Chelmsford. Charles has yet to be found in the 1911 census.

Charles married Annie Edith Dann, daughter of Frederick George Dann, in August 1914 at Warley, just four days after the outbreak of war. Warley was the Depot of the Essex Regiment, which suggests he may have been a soldier there before the outbreak of the war. The couple had a son, Roy Reginald Fewell (1915-1995), and a daughter, Margaret A. Fewell (born in 1916).

Charles’ brother, Thomas Richard Fewell was killed in action on 28th July 1916. Their father served with the Royal Engineers during the war.

Charles lived at Chelmsford, and enlisted at Warley. serving as 9470 in the Essex Regiment. He was killed in action on 8th January 1918 while serving as Serjeant 9285 in the 148th Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He was aged 26. He is buried at Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave reference: II. G. 13).