Henry Singleton Pennell

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

PENNELL, Henry Singleton. (reg No. 981).

Lieutenant. 2nd Battalion. Derbyshire Regiment. * London Gazetted on the 20th May, 1898.

Born on 18th June 1874 at Dawlish, Devon.

Died on 19th January 1907 at St Moritzdorf, Switzerland as the result of a toboganning accident.

Digest of Citation: During the Tirah campaign on 20th October 1897, at the attack on the Dargai Heights, on the Indian Frontier, Captain W.E.G. Smith, of the Derbyshire Regiment, was struck down. Lieutenant Pennell ran to the officer's assistance, under a hail of bullets, making two determined attempts to carry and drag him back to cover. He only relinquished his attempts when he realised that Captain Smith was dead.

* Sherwood Foresters.

Additional information:. Captain Pennell was the son a Mr Edwin and Henrietta Pennell of Dawlish, Devonshire. Educated at Eastbourne College he joined the Derbyshire Regiment in 1893. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1896. Went to India with the Tirah Field Force (1897-98). He was also mentioned in despatches. He took part in the actions at Dargai, Sampagha Pass, Arhanga Pass , Kanka, Waran and Bazar Valley. He saw action again during the Boer War, attached to the West Yorkshire Regiment and the Natal Field Force. He saw action in all the main operations at Colenso, Spion Kop, Vaal Krantz and Tugela culminating in the capture of Pieter's Hill. He was severely wounded. He continued on until 1900, receiving the Medal with five Clasps. He was mentioned in Despatches twice. He'd been selected for the Staff College course, after which he was posted to a Staff Appointment. He was killed in a tobogganing accident at St Moritzdorf Switzerland on 19th Jan 1907.