Charlie Favell
Charlie was born 16th August 1910 in Hemingford Grey. His mother was Maria Favell, a single woman with five children. Two daughters and three sons. Ethel, Frederick, Violet, Walter, and Charlie. Maria worked as a Charwoman at the Railway Hotel, St Ives, but had also spent time in the Union Workhouse where four of the children were born..
Charlie was in his late twenties at the outbreak of war and was working as a Chicory Drier at the Chicory Factory in St Ives.
His older brother Walter had signed up as a regular soldier in the Tank Regiment in 1926, but didn’t manage to pass his examinations, so immediately relisted in the 5th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment as a part time Territorial Soldier, while working for the St Ives Gas company. He was recalled for full time service in 1939 and is believed to have seen action in France with the British Expeditionary Force and been evacuated from Dunkirk. Charlie may well have done the same.
Charlie was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, in the 145/35th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment.
The Hunts Post later carried the report of his brother Walter’s death while fighting in North Africa and also stated that Charlie himself had been listed as ‘missing’ in Malaya for over twelve months.
Charlie had actually been captured by the Japanese and was taken prisoner in the February of 1942, and not released until 1945.
Charles married Doris Allen in 1947. In 1948 they had a son, Maurice Steven Favell.
Charles died in 1979. His death is believed to have been suicide and the result of never being able to shake of his experiences as a Japanese POW in Malaya.
So far as I can tell, Charles’s Great Grandfather was John Favell, born 1805, who married Lucy King. John and Lucy were my 4x Great Grandparents. I find it a fascinating coincidence that Charlie’s son Maurice, like myself, should have an interest in MG cars. Not only racing MG TDs, but also making and supplying replacement ash frames for their bodywork. Is there some DNA going on here!
