Name
Alexander James Purssell
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2995
London Regiment *1
1st (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GREEN HILL CEMETERY
Plot II, Row A, Grave 11.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone inscription
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Oxhey Village Memorial, St Matthew’s Church Roll of Honour, Oxhey, Bushey Baptist Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Alexander James Purssell/Pursell was born in Watford, Herts, in 1894, he was the youngest and only son of Alexander Newman Purssell/Pursell a Postman and Emma Maria Purssell/Pursell (nee Goode), who was widowed in 1899 and left to bring up the four children. The family lived in Capel Road, Oxhey and Emma worked at home as a laundress, helped in later years by her daughter Florence.
His parents married 1886 in the Watford district. Alexander died 1899 in Bushey, Herts, aged 34, and was buried 20 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Emma died 28 September 1941 in High Wycombe, Bucks, aged 77.
The 1901 Census records Alexander aged 6 living with his widowed mother, and sisters Helen 13, Florence 10, and Alice 8, at 8, Capel Road, New Bushey, (Oxhey), Herts. By 1911 Alexander now aged 16 had left school and was working as a store boy at the gas works, living with his widowed mother and sisters Florence 20, who was helping her mother as a Home Laundress and Alice 18, the family were now living at 16, Capel Road.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Handel Street, London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915, and was killed in action at Gallipoli.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915.
Additional Information
*1 London Regiment (Royal
Fusiliers)
Unfortunately, Alexander’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a Death announcement for Alexander in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 23 October 1915. The value of his effects were £3-0s-7d, Pay Owing and £3-10s-0d, War Gratuity which went to his mother Emma. Additional information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
