Lancelot Borrell

Forename(s):
Lancelot

Surname:
Borrell

Initial(s):
L

Service Number:
Officer

Rank:
2nd Lieutenant

Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 12th (Service) Battalion

Died:
10/07/1916

Aged:
23

Buried:
South Charlton (St James) Churchyard, Northumberland

Service History:
From 1913 to 1915 Borrell was a member of the University Officer Training Corps. He obtained a commission in February 1915 & went to the Western Front in October that year spending most of the winter near Armentières in Belgium.

On 3 July 1916 he was serving as a signaller when an urgent call came through for support in the front line. Although not part of his role, he volunteered to lead a bombing party against the enemy & it was during this action that he was wounded by machine gun fire.

Borrell was wounded on the same day as his brother, Lieutenant James Borrell, who served with the same battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Evacuated home he died on 10 July 1916 in a military hospital at Oxford. He was buried near his home with full military honours at a funeral which included a firing party, buglers, pipers & drummers. His coffin was covered with the Union Jack & his cap, sword & gloves placed on top.
(Source: Christine Allin, October 2017 who directed us to manchester.ac.uk/roll-of-honour/lancelot-borrell/)

Background:
Born in 1893 at Ilton, Yorkshire, the son of Arthur Borrell, a school master, of South Charlton, Northumberland.

Educated at DukeÂ’s School, Alnwick, Northumberland. Entered Manchester University in 1912 & gained his BSc. in 1915.

At school & university Borrell was a keen cricketer & footballer obtaining a Bronze medal in 1913 at the University sports. He was a member of the Christian Union & active at St. LukeÂ’s, Lightbowne, where his energetic participation in their cricket team helped to elevate their position in the Manchester League.

At the time of his death Borrell had two brothers serving abroad in the Durham Light Infantry & Machine Gun Corps. Both were involved in the Battle of the Somme & one was wounded. His father was a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Borrell left effects worth £151-14s-1d to his father.
(Source: Christine Allin, October 2017 who directed us to ww1.manchester.ac.uk/roll-of-honour/lancelot-borrell/)

Local Memorial:
Alnwick, Memorial Plaque in former premises of the DukeÂ’s School (Source: Dudley George; August 2018) Rock, St. Philip's & St. James' Roll of Honour South Charlton, St. James' Churchyard University of Manchester War Memorial, Main Quadrangle