I stumbled across William Gell recently as an officer and then CO 1/5th Warwicks in the First World War. His medals are on display in the Fusiliers Museum at Warwick. In the Second World War he commanded all Balloon Groups in Britain. Life history below...
William Charles Coleman Gell, 1/5th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1888 July 10. Born Birmingham. Son of William James Gell (born 1856) of Cora Lyn, Solihull and Catherine born at Maidstone in 1859. Parents were married in 1885.
1891 Census records him living with his Birmingham born grandfather, Joseph C Gell, a retired accountant, at 45, Wordsworth Road, Bordesley, Birmingham and his wife, Catherine. His parents were at 172, Golden Hillock Road, Bordesley at the time of the census.
1901. Census records him living with his parents at 111, Gough Road, Edgbaston, his older sister Catherine and his younger sister, Mary. His father was a manager of an umbrella works. There were two servants.
Educated Malvern College and Caius College, Cambridge where he achieved a law degree. Also OTC there.
1911 May 12 Joined the 1/5 Royal Warwicks as a Second Lieutenant. At the same address as 1901. He was described as a solicitor’s articled clerk. His father was now director of a firm which manufactured umbrella ribs and ‘furniture wire files’.
1913 Articled in Birmingham and London. Passed the solicitor’s final examination with honours.
1914 January-August. Solicitor in London
1914 December 16. Lieutenant
1916 June 1. Captain
1916 Wounded on the Somme
1916 October 3 to June 28 1917. Acting Major
1917-19 Commanded 1/5 Warwicks from August 23 1917 having held acting command summer 1917. Served in France and Italy. DSO (January 1 1918) with bar(June 3 1919) and MC (January 1 1917). Italian Silver Medal for Valour. Mentioned in despatches
1923 Married Edith Maud, daughter of William Francis Gosling
1928 Became official referee under the Landlord and Tenant Act
1924-9 Commanded 1/5 Royal Warwicks
1929 Son William Roy Gell born (also daughters Diane and Sheila)
1934. Recorded as a solicitor at 36, Waterloo Street, Birmingham practicing since 1919 (Johnson and Company) and living at Dorridge House, Dorridge. Deputy Lieutenant of Warwickshire (from 1931).
1935 Joined the Anti-Aircraft Service (TA) as an officer
1938 Transferred to the Auxiliary Air Force when Balloon Command formed
1940 September 1. By this date Group Captain with No 5 Balloon Centre
1941 Commanded No 6 Balloon Centre
1941 July 1. Became A.O.C No 30 (Balloon Group) - London area
1944 February 1. Air Officer Commanding RAF Balloon Command
1944 June 8. Awarded the CB
1944 September. Attends service of thanksgiving and parade on the anniversary of the Battle of Britain
1945 March 26. Resigned his commission but retained his rank
1945 December. Still at Dorridge House
1954 August. Now living at The Knoll, Warwick Road, Solihull
1969 Died May 16.