Military History

Percy is listed as being killed in action on 30 Jul 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The war diary for that day is transcribed below.

Bazentin Le Petit 30^th July 1916: Beautiful fine day. Headquarters established connection with contact aeroplane at 10.30am. Orders were received for a general attack on the Intermediate line. 57th Brigade attached troops from track 5.2.C.8.6 to Sap at S.3.d.2.3 in following order from left to right – Glouc – Worc – R War R – Kings Own supported by 81^st Field Coy RE & 5 S.W.B. That would be a slow bombardment off the line by heavies during the day ending with an intense bombardment for one minute before Zero which was at 6.10pm. The assault would take place in two lines, the first line would creep out to top of Ridge and rush the German line immediately the barrage lifted supported by the 2^nd  line 75 yards behind. Thus the whole battalion would be clear of the trenches before 6.10pm. This was possible the German line was on the reverse side of the Ridge.

The attack as far as the Battalion was concerned was a complete failure. The Regt went too much to the right thus leaving our right flank exposed. Each Coy of the Battalion appeared to wait for each other but did not follow up the barrage and several Germans was seen leaving the trench during the “mad minute”.

The Glouc on our left also failed. The Battalion trying to consolidate a line just below the Ridge but were continually under direct enfilade M.G. fire. They were badly shelled and at dusk withdrew to our original line. Heavy hostile shelling of both support and frontline and village. Our trenches were good and we had not many casualties though the Glouc suffered heavily. Showing continued in bursts all night. The Staffordshire Regt who had taken our places in the front line when we attacked withdrew at dawn [31^st]. End