Military History

Percy is listed as being killed in action on 3 Oct 1918, having originally been reported wounded and missing. The 4th Battalion war diary entry for 3 Oct 1918 is transcribed below [at times it is difficult to read hence ?].

Le Catelet – 3^rd October 1918 - 0015hrs: Battalion orders for operation were issued. Very great difficultly was experienced in moving companies to position of assembly. The ground was entirely unknown and no guides were available. The night was dark with frequent bursts of rain.

05.30hrs: Battalion HQ moved forward to A.15.b.9.3
05.50hrs: Attacking companies reported in position of assembly
06.05 hrs: ZERO HOUR. Companies advance to the attack

07.30am: First message received from Capt Nutting OC B(left Coy), reported attack progressing favourably, casualties heavy, reinforcements required.

07.40hrs: One Platoon C Coy, under Lt Davies was sent forward to reinforce B Coy (Capt Nutting)

08.30hrs: Second message from Capt Nutting B Coy timed 07.40am asked for further help as Company reduced to 30 rifles and encountering heavy M.G. fire.

08.40hrs: Lieut Preece went forward with HQ C Coy and one platoon to reinforce Capt Nutting.

09.00hrs: Capt Hayhurst-France commanding D (right Coy) arrived wounded at Battalion HQ and reported ? & Le Catelet cleared of the enemy & our troops digging in on high ground N of Le Catelet but under ? heavy machine gun fire  from front and right flank. He reported that Lieut MaCauley (comdg A Coy) had also been wounded. By this time (09.00) units had become scattered and somewhat disorganized owing to severe nature of fight through the villages, the extent of front covered and to heavy losses incurred. The task of adequately extending ? a line of troops 2000 yards long N of the Village was therefore found impracticable. Our troops appearing beyond W outskirts of Le Catelet came at once under heavy MG fire, notably from the sunken road in A.4.c.8.8 which had not been dealt with by left Brigade and from a fortified system of trenches on commanding ground in S.28.d. Troops therefore dug in on outskirts of villages NW & NE covering approach from N as far as practicable.

11.30am: Considerable parties of the enemy were observed about this time working their way towards the outskirts of Gouy down the valley in B.30. Owing to the length of front held & heavy casualties the Battn was then too weak to hold any determined counter attack. A company of 3 Northumberland Fusiliers place at disposal of Battalion, were therefore ordered to take up a position in support in A.11.c & d. Later a second Company of N.F were ordered to take up position in A.11.G in readiness to counter attack through Le Catelet if penetrated by the enemy.

13.00hrs: About this time the artillery again opened, heavily sweeping ground N & NE of Le Catelet with result that efforts of the enemy to infiltrate up the Valley in S.30 into Gouy were frustrated and ceased. Reconnaissance, owing to harassing fire from enemy MG’s from vantage ground around village, was practically impossible in daylight and details of the situation and exact dispositions remained obscure until evening when both villages were found still to be clear of the enemy.

21.00hrs: At this time Battalion was relieved by 1^st R. Munster Fusilliers & withdrew to the Hindenburg Line of Bony about A.15.a.
Prisoners captured 1 Officer and 252 OR. Machine Guns captured 35.

The enemy fought with a determination to which their dead left in the captured positions bear witness. Both villages had been fortified with great skills and thoroughness, nests of M.G’s covered every way of approach & snipers from the upper stories of the houses commanded every street. The task set the Battalion called for very resolute leading, individual initiative, resourceful & rapid ?.