See also
Name:
Sex:
Male
Father:
Mother:
Birth:
Mar 1888
As it was normal practice to baptise a child within a few weeks of birth it is assumed that he was born in early March. This is confirmed by his birth registration.
Baptism:
1 Apr 1888 (age 0)
All Hallows Church4
Address: Tottenham, Middlesex
His parents and probably his older siblings would have been present but who else is not known.
Census (living with parents):
5 Apr 1891 (age 3)
1891 Census - living with parents
Census (living with parents):
31 Mar 1901 (age 12-13)
1901 Census - living with parents
Census (brother-in-law & sister):
2 Apr 1911 (age 23)
Census for household
He was working as a saleman for a rubber company
Military Enlistment:
11 Nov 1915 (age 27 yrs 9 mns)
Army; Tottenham5
It is not clear from the available records into which regiment he enlisted but it was probably the 6th Battalion of the Royal Fusillers. His medical record on enlistment records that he was 5 ft 4 1/4 ins tall, weighed 104 lbs (7 1/2 stone), had a chest measurement of 34 ins with an expansion of 2 ins. He also had poor teeth. In other words he was probably severely undernourished.
Military Service:
frm 11 Nov 1915 to 9 Nov 1920 (age 27-32)
Army; England and France6
Shortly after recruitment he was transferred to The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) 1st (Home Service) Battalion. Then in June 1917 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers Railway Troops at Bordon in France. After that he was posted as a Pioneer to the Railway Construction Troops. He appears to have overstayed his leave on two occasions by a day. On the first occasion in September 1918 he forfeited three days pay and on the second occasion in April 1819 he was confined to barracks for 14 days. Under the heading Acts of Courage it is noted that on 10 August 1919 he was involved in fighting a fire at the ammunition dump at Bourebourg.
Military Discharge:
9 Nov 1920 (age 32)
Army7
His discharge was on medical grounds because of poor teeth requiring dentures. His medical report on discharge says that he suffered from the effects of septic absorption from teeth - a condition aggravated by service - which caused pain and shortness of breath. Dental treatment was ordered in lieu of pension.
Death:
1958 (age 69)
Registration District of Edmonton, Middlesex8
1912, Register Entry for Marriage of Archibald Bertie Dowell and Louisa Vye
Spouse:
Marriage:
21 Jan 1912 (age 23)
Address: Tottenham, Middlesex
The relationship of Sydney Farrance to the couple is unknown. He was probably a friend of the groom. Lewis Vye was almost certainly the bride's brother. The groom's father Hezekiah was almost certainly there. (His mother had died about four years before.) The bride's parents were probably there and possibly the couple's siblings but who else is not known.
1891 England Census for Household of Frederick Dowell in Tottenham, Middlesex, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG12/1070 Folio 95 Page 41; Name. Cit. Date: 5 April 1891. National Archives.
England and Wales Birth Registration Index, Archibald Bertie Dowell, Q1 1888, Edmonton, Vol. 3a, Page 356, General Register Office.
1891 England Census for Household of Frederick Dowell in Tottenham, Middlesex, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG12/1070 Folio 95 Page 41; Age and place of birth. Cit. Date: 5 April 1891. National Archives.
Parish Register for Baptism of Archibald Bertie Dowell, All Hallows, Tottenham, Middlesex, 1 April 1888, London Metropolitan Archives.
Military Record for Archibald Bertie Dowell in the Royal Engineers of the Army 11 November 1915.
Ibid. from 11 November 1915 to 9 November 1920.
Ibid. 9 November 1920.
England and Wales Death Registration Index, Archibald B Dowell, Q1 1959, Edmonton, Vol. 5e, Page 311, General Register Office.
Parish Register for Marriage of Archibald Bertie Dowell and Louisa Vye, St Mary, Tottenham, Middlesex, 21 January 1912, London Metropolitan Archives.
England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, Archibald B Dowell and Louisa Vye, Q1 1912, Edmonton, Vol. 3a, Page 612, General Register Office.