60772: Driving Licence of Walter Powell

This is the civilian driving licence of Walter Powell, dated 26th May 1915. Although eligible for only 12 months this is the only licence Walter carried until he gave up driving because of ill health in the early 1990s (aged over 92). He was a driver (cars and lorries) and a motorcycle despatch rider during the First World War - he passed tests and examinations to qualify him for this, as recorded in his father's diaries (also part of this collection).

Part of a collection relating to Walter H. Powell, Llandrindod Wells, (private / driver M2-267205 Mechanised Transport Army Service Corps). Born 1898, Walter tried to join up under-age on a number of occasions, finally succeeding in 1916. He served many months - (more than 2 years?) - in different army units in Britain, before going over to France. He served as a despatch rider for an anti-aircraft battery in 1918-1919. Walter was gassed "suffering the effects all his life". He was a founder member of Toc-H in Llandrindod, and a keen footballer - he died in 1994 aged 96. However Walter's older brothers (Cliff and Percy Powell) and his uncle (Humphrey Powell) died of wounds sustained during the war.