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06/08/1881 - 12/10/1916

Place of birth: West Kensington, Middlesex
Last known address in Bromley: 30 Tweedy Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry
Battalion/Ship: General Staff, 63rd RN Div
Rank: Major
Number: Unknown
Awards: Distinguished Service Order, 3 x Mentioned in Dispatches

Family information

Parents: Rev Ernest Powys & Ada Ginerva Sketchley (nee Bennett)
Parents' occupation: Clerk in Holy Orders
Siblings: Ellen Mary Powys, Phillip Everingham Powys (d), Dorothy Gertrude Powys, Cyril Bernard Powys (d)
Wife: Phyllis Frances Murray Campbell
Marriage date: 1908
Children: Frances Mary Powys, Murray Frederick Powys

Census information

1891
Address: 30 Tweedy Road
1901
Address: Royal Marine Barracks Alverstoke
1911
Address: Royal Marine Barracks Alverstoke

Extra details

Fred, as he was known to his family, was the third child and only surviving son of Ernest and Ada Sketchley. Prior to entering Dulwich College in 1895 he attended Bromley Park School at 12 London Road. In his last two years at Dulwich he was in the first XV, in 1899 being awarded the Challenge Cup as the outstanding forward of the season.

In 1900 despite being placed sixth out of 205 successful candidates for the Sandhurst Entrance Examination Fred chose to enter the Royal Marine Light Infantry. After training at the Royal Naval College Greenwich he joined the Plymouth Division, in 1902 he was sent to HMS Aboukir in the Mediterranean for three years. In May 1905 he was offered, and accepted, the post of Aide-de-Camp and, eventually, Private Secretary to Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, the Governor of Western Australia. Whilst in Australia he met and married Phyllis Frances Murray Campbell. In 1908 he returned to England, where he served as Adjutant to the Plymouth Division, then in 1911 was promoted to the rank of Captain.

In 1914 Fred took part in the expeditions to Ostend and Antwerp, after which he was placed on the Staff of the Royal Naval Division. He was made General Staff Officer on 29th September 1914 and was for several months engaged in its organisation in England. In April 1915 he went out to Gallipoli where he was involved throughout the invasion and all the way through to the evacuation at the end of that year. Whilst there he was awarded the DSO -"On 13th July, during operations south of Achi Baba, a retreat began and rapidly developed, which might have had very serious consequences. Major Sketchley, who was with the supports, assisted by a corporal, prevented some of these men from retiring further. He then gathered together about 40 of them, reorganising them, and leading them forward, reoccupied some of the trenches. He returned twice to gather more men and, collecting in all about 100, retook further trenches, captured some 40 prisoners, and secured the position. He exhibited great courage, presence of mind, and powers of personal leadership in a moment of crisis."

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli Fred remained on the Staff of the 63rd Royal Naval Division with whom he was posted to France in May 1916. While inspecting trenches near Albert on 12th October 1916 Fred was caught in a shell blast, dying instantly.

Fred was also Mentioned in Despatches three times.

Thank you to Dulwich College for their assistance.