Henry James Fell, a former Private with the 1/8 Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, died on 12th February 1921 as a result of pneumonia following malaria. Known as Harry, he was born in Knowle in 1892 and was the only child of parents Stephen Henry Fell, a jobbing gardener, and Fanny Rebecca (née Fisher), a charwoman.
Having lived in Lodge Road at the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to Wilsons Road by 1911 and 18-year-old Harry was working as a bricklayer’s labourer. According to a board on display at Knowle Library, Harry was a founder member of the Knowle & Dorridge Volunteer Rifle Corps.
Local researcher, David Gimes, tells us that Harry enlisted in the Army in 1915 and was wounded on 1st July 1916. He was also further wounded in Italy in 1918 and was also gassed.
By 1921, Harry was living at The Rookery, Station Road, Knowle. His funeral took place at Knowle Parish Church and six ex-servicemen acted as pall-bearers. He is believed to have been buried at Knowle, although there is no gravestone to mark his final resting place.
Having been discharged from the Army, he is not counted in official records as a war casualty. His name is not included amongst those in the Soldiers’ Chapel at Knowle Parish Church but he is listed on the new sandstone columns that were unveiled outside the church in 2018.
If you have any further information please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage and Local Studies Librarian
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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