William Edward Hazell — Charfield

Gunner, Royal Artillery, Service Number 199415

William Edward (Bill) Hazell was born in St Philips Marsh, Bristol, on 20 March 1886. His childhood was divided between the city and the quieter countryside of Pensford, where he lived with his grandparents. In 1907 he married Ellen Mary Hancock, beginning a family life that would eventually root itself firmly in Charfield.

When the Great War began in 1914, William was 28. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery as a Gunner and Bombardier, serving under regiment number 199415. His war took him to Ypres, one of the most brutal and defining fronts of the conflict. Like so many who endured the mud, shellfire and constant danger, William rarely spoke of his experiences, telling his family simply that it had been “too horrible to talk about.”

Despite the hardship, he found small ways to stay connected to home. He sent silk postcards to his wife and daughter — delicate reminders of love from the trenches. He also developed an unexpected fondness for eating snails, a habit picked up during his time in Belgium and remembered with humour by his family.

William was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service. Though the medals later passed to another branch of the family, his contribution remains part of Charfield’s quiet legacy of remembrance.

After returning home, William and Ellen settled in Charfield, appearing on the 1918 electoral roll at 2 Horsford Cottages. William worked at the Cadbury depot, while Ellen found employment at Tubbs Lewis. Their daughter Alice began work at the Mills at just 13, and William later joined her there as a carpenter.

In the 1921 census Bill was registered as a oil and petrol delivery driver for Anglo American Oil, and both Ellen and Alice are still working for the Tubbs Lewis Company in the Pin and Bone Mills in the village.

The Hazell family became deeply woven into village life. When Charfield suffered its tragic railway disaster in 1928, William and Ellen were among the first to help. They assisted in the aftermath and even served as pallbearers for the victims — a reflection of their compassion and commitment to their community.

William died aged 71 on 4 February 1957, at his home on Wotton Road. His story is one of quiet courage, devotion to family, and service both to his country and to the village he called home. He is laid to rest in the churchyard of the Charfield Congregational Church just off Wotton Road.