Sergeant Charles John Flowers Travell - 8th London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) and Royal Artillery
1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. Territorial Force War Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Territorial Efficiency Medal. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial'. Imperial Service Medal.
The Man Charles John Flowers Travell was born on Tuesday 27th June 1893 at 8 Devonshire Mews South, Marylebone, London, son of Charles Flowers, a Domestic Coachman and Catherine Mary nee How. He was Baptised on 6th August, although his record incorrectly shows his surname as Flowers and was one of three children, Sarah Woodland born in 1896 and Catherine Lucy 1902.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 1 Nottingham Street, St Marylebone, possibly in rooms as they were one of four families at the address. In 1911, aged 17 and following his education, Charles joined the Post Office as a Messenger and the family were living at 11 Jacob’s Well Mews in Marylebone. In November the same year Charles was formally registered as an Assistant Postman in the London Postal Service, his appointment as Postman, without competition, being confirmed in the London Gazette of 2nd January 1912.
Following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, which brought the part-time Volunteer Force infantry artillery and engineer units and Yeomanry (mounted) regiments from across the country together into a single Territorial Force in 1908, the 24th Middlesex became the 8th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles). Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Charles enlisted in the 8th Battalion on 7th September 1914 as a Rifleman with service number 2247, later 370553.
The Post Office Rifles served with distinction in the Great War, arriving in France 18th March 1915 and by the end of the war 1,800 men had been killed and 4,500 wounded. Charles entered France on 4th February 1917 until 19th April 1918. He survived his time at the front, but shortly after the Armistice, was discharged, on 29th November 1918 under King's Regulations Paragraph 392 (xvi), released on account of being permanently physically unfit. This was often a result of sickness, disease or uncovered physical weakness and war wounds. He was awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and Silver War Badge No B56030. He also felt he was entitled to the Territorial Force War Medal and made a ‘self-award’. He lived at 8 Sussex Mews, Hyde Park, London.
After the war Charles returned to working in the Post Office and re-joined the Territorial Force with a new number 6595530 and then the Territorial Army upon its creation in 1921. During the third quarter of 1921 he married Kathleen Mary Gannon ‘Mary’ in Paddington, they had eight children, Charles James Flowers (13th September 1922 – killed in Action 11th May 1942 in HMS Bedfordshire), Frederick Charles Flowers (1923 - 1957), George Edward Flowers (19th February 1925 - 2013 served in the Royal Navy during world War II), Eileen S M (1927- 1963), Kathleen L (1928- ), Margaret Elizabeth Travell (1931–), John R (1933 - ) and David Kenneth (20th February 1936 - 1985).
In 1928 he was awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal in Army Order 167 of that year having transferred to the 7th Battalion London Regiment. The 1939 electoral register shows Charles, Mary and his mother Catherine living at 43 Moorhouse Road, Notting Hill, presumably with their children and in lodgings as the house was shared by several families. The 1939 Register replicates this but several Travell names have been redacted.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 and aged 46, Charles, who had now transferred to the Royal Artillery, was once again called to the Colours serving for two years in Coastal Defence and Anti-Aircraft duties, until he was aged 48, then retiring from the TA and the Post Office. He was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ in Army Order 31 of 1941 as a Sergeant and his Imperial Service Medal, this appearing in the London Gazette of 6th February 1942. Following the war he was awarded his War Medal 1939-45.
He became a Commercial Clerk following retirement and in 1951 was living at 18 Sunderland Terrace, once again possibly in rooms as the house was occupied by a number of other families. By 1961 they were living in43 Moorhouse Road, London and on 1st December 1961 Mary passed away at St Charles Hospital, Kensington.
Charles remarried in the third quarter of 1963 to Mary K Farrell in Paddington, she having lived at the same address in Sunderland Terrace in 1951. He passed away during the second quarter of 1972 aged 79 at Torbay.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 1 Nottingham Street, St Marylebone, possibly in rooms as they were one of four families at the address. In 1911, aged 17 and following his education, Charles joined the Post Office as a Messenger and the family were living at 11 Jacob’s Well Mews in Marylebone. In November the same year Charles was formally registered as an Assistant Postman in the London Postal Service, his appointment as Postman, without competition, being confirmed in the London Gazette of 2nd January 1912.
Following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, which brought the part-time Volunteer Force infantry artillery and engineer units and Yeomanry (mounted) regiments from across the country together into a single Territorial Force in 1908, the 24th Middlesex became the 8th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles). Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Charles enlisted in the 8th Battalion on 7th September 1914 as a Rifleman with service number 2247, later 370553.
The Post Office Rifles served with distinction in the Great War, arriving in France 18th March 1915 and by the end of the war 1,800 men had been killed and 4,500 wounded. Charles entered France on 4th February 1917 until 19th April 1918. He survived his time at the front, but shortly after the Armistice, was discharged, on 29th November 1918 under King's Regulations Paragraph 392 (xvi), released on account of being permanently physically unfit. This was often a result of sickness, disease or uncovered physical weakness and war wounds. He was awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and Silver War Badge No B56030. He also felt he was entitled to the Territorial Force War Medal and made a ‘self-award’. He lived at 8 Sussex Mews, Hyde Park, London.
After the war Charles returned to working in the Post Office and re-joined the Territorial Force with a new number 6595530 and then the Territorial Army upon its creation in 1921. During the third quarter of 1921 he married Kathleen Mary Gannon ‘Mary’ in Paddington, they had eight children, Charles James Flowers (13th September 1922 – killed in Action 11th May 1942 in HMS Bedfordshire), Frederick Charles Flowers (1923 - 1957), George Edward Flowers (19th February 1925 - 2013 served in the Royal Navy during world War II), Eileen S M (1927- 1963), Kathleen L (1928- ), Margaret Elizabeth Travell (1931–), John R (1933 - ) and David Kenneth (20th February 1936 - 1985).
In 1928 he was awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal in Army Order 167 of that year having transferred to the 7th Battalion London Regiment. The 1939 electoral register shows Charles, Mary and his mother Catherine living at 43 Moorhouse Road, Notting Hill, presumably with their children and in lodgings as the house was shared by several families. The 1939 Register replicates this but several Travell names have been redacted.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 and aged 46, Charles, who had now transferred to the Royal Artillery, was once again called to the Colours serving for two years in Coastal Defence and Anti-Aircraft duties, until he was aged 48, then retiring from the TA and the Post Office. He was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ in Army Order 31 of 1941 as a Sergeant and his Imperial Service Medal, this appearing in the London Gazette of 6th February 1942. Following the war he was awarded his War Medal 1939-45.
He became a Commercial Clerk following retirement and in 1951 was living at 18 Sunderland Terrace, once again possibly in rooms as the house was occupied by a number of other families. By 1961 they were living in43 Moorhouse Road, London and on 1st December 1961 Mary passed away at St Charles Hospital, Kensington.
Charles remarried in the third quarter of 1963 to Mary K Farrell in Paddington, she having lived at the same address in Sunderland Terrace in 1951. He passed away during the second quarter of 1972 aged 79 at Torbay.
Charles John Flower's World War I Medal Index Card showing award of the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and Silver War Badge.
The Story The medals awarded to Charles John Flowers Travell were acquired from e-bay on 2nd July 2024 following an offer made and were of interest because of the treble long service combination, the main theme of this collection. The unusual name enabled Ancestry to provide enough detail for a reasonable biography to be pieced together.
Of interest are the facts that Charles was not entitled to the Territorial Force War Medal but has seemingly ‘self-awarded’ an erased one, he served in WWII but only for a couple of years until he was aged 50 and therefore only entitled to the War Medal 1939-45, the Imperial Service Medal is worn at the end of the group as was correct at the time, this only being amended in the London Gazette of 11th February 1947 to a much more senior position and would be worn after the War Medal 39-45 nowadays.
Also of interest, one of Charles’ sons – Charles James Flowers was killed in action in World War II in HM Trawler Bedfordshire, which was on loan to the US Navy, an interesting story in its own right.
A pleasing group to a time served Territorial who saw serving in both world wars.
By coincidence just over a month after the acquisition of these medals,those awarded to Charles's sons, Charles junior who was killed in action and George appeared on E-Bay from a different vendor and included the box of award for Charles junior's medals named to his father at the home address. See below to view their stories.
The medals were acquired and now reunited as a family group.
Of interest are the facts that Charles was not entitled to the Territorial Force War Medal but has seemingly ‘self-awarded’ an erased one, he served in WWII but only for a couple of years until he was aged 50 and therefore only entitled to the War Medal 1939-45, the Imperial Service Medal is worn at the end of the group as was correct at the time, this only being amended in the London Gazette of 11th February 1947 to a much more senior position and would be worn after the War Medal 39-45 nowadays.
Also of interest, one of Charles’ sons – Charles James Flowers was killed in action in World War II in HM Trawler Bedfordshire, which was on loan to the US Navy, an interesting story in its own right.
A pleasing group to a time served Territorial who saw serving in both world wars.
By coincidence just over a month after the acquisition of these medals,those awarded to Charles's sons, Charles junior who was killed in action and George appeared on E-Bay from a different vendor and included the box of award for Charles junior's medals named to his father at the home address. See below to view their stories.
The medals were acquired and now reunited as a family group.
Pension Record Card
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 2247 PTE.C.J.F.TRAVELL. 8-LOND.R.
- Victory Medal: 2247 PTE.C.J.F.TRAVELL. 8-LOND.R.
- Territorial Force War Medal: Erased.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Territorial Efficiency Medal: 6595530 CPL.C.J.TRAVELL. 7-LOND.R.
- Efficiency Medal 'Territorial': 6595530 SJT.C.J.TRAVELL. R.A.
- Imperial Service Medal: CHARLES JOHN FLOWERS TRAVELL
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This page last updated 18 Jul 24
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