Second Lieutenant, Middlesex Regiment, attached Royal Air Force
Born: December 31st 1896
Died: September 25th 1917
Age at Death: 20
Killed in action, France, November 5th 1917.
Son of Alexander C. Powers, Brighton.
A donation to the memorial statue has been made in honour of this soldier by Lady Alexander.
Bernard Alexander Powers
Bernard Powers was born on December 31st 1897 in Wembley, London. He was the only son and second child of Alexander Powers, who may have been a schoolmaster, and his wife Blanche (nee Bernard). In 1911 the family moved from London to a boarding house in Brighton from which Powers attended the College.
On the outbreak of war he trained and received a commission in the 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, a depot battalion based throughout the war in Britain. At a later date he received a promotion and volunteered for service in the RFC, receiving his Aviation Certificate on 12th November 1916. He was then attached to 19th Squadron RFC, flying the French built “Spad” biplane fighter over the Western Front in France. It was while flying with this squadron that he was reported missing on 25th September 1917.
He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Fauborg D’Amiens Cemetery, France.
Source: LEST WE FORGET PROJECT, Brighton College 2014/15