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Percy is listed as being killed in action on 10th May 1915 having initially being reported as missing in action. However the war diary states that he was wounded on 8th May during the actions at Bellewaarde Farm. As his remains were never found we suspect that he died of those wounds on the 8th. The Princess Patricia Battalion war diary entries for the period 8th to 11th May are transcribed below.
4am to 12 noon 8 May 1915
Bellewarde Lake – 8 May 1915 – 4am: Shelling by Germans started chiefly from our right flank which enfiladed our fire trenches, this grew more severe by 5.30 & about this time some Germans were noticed coming down hill directly in front of us and we opened rapid fire on them.
6am: All our telephone wires were cut by this time both to Brigade & also to trenches so all Signallers, Pioneers, Orderlies and Servants were ordered into support trenches and shortly afterward all advance by Germans was checked and any not sheltered by buildings or dead crawled back over crest of ridge to trenches. Germans has two, possibly three, machine guns in buildings & were sweeping our parapets both in fire and support trenches. An Orderly took note to Brigade HQ notifying them of situation.
7am: Major Gault was severely hit (by shell in left arm & left thigh). Shelling by heavy Howitzers using all high explosives & Field Guns started again in heavy bombardment both on fire and support trenches. Fire trench on right being blown in at several points. A note by orderly to Brigade notified them we were being heavily shelled and asking for reinforcements as our casualties were heavy.
9am: Cessation of shelling and Germans again attempted to advance but heavy fire from our machine guns & rifles checked them & forced them to retire & take cover. At this time the P.P.C.L.I accounted for many of the enemy.
Lt’s. Martin & Triggs were hit and came out left communication trench with number of wounded. Capt. Hill & Lt De Bay hit also.
9.30am: Lt Niven went at this time & was in communication with the Officer of K.O.Y.L.I on our left and Officer of 4th Rifle Bde on our right but were suffering heavy casualties from enfilade fire. Bombardment started again particular attention being paid to our Machine Guns. All machine guns were buried but two were dug out & mounted again, one three times but a shell killed every man on its section.
10.30am: Left half of our right fire trench was completely destroyed & Lt. Dennison ordered Lt Clark to take remaining men & get in our right communication trench. Lt. Dennison & Lt. Lane still held part of our right fire trench (right half) suffered severely & trench was blown in and machine gun put out of action.
Sergt Scott and few men withdrew to communication trench & held it until it was blown in. Lt Crawford who was most gallant was severely wounded. Capt Adamson who had been handing out ammunition was hit in shoulder but continued to work with only one arm useful. R Sergt Major Fraser was also handing out SAA [small arms ammunition] to support trenches was killed instantly by a bullet in head.
12 noon to 11.30pm 8 May 1915
12am [noon]: Snipers had been extremely brave taking messages to Brigade & reserve Battn kept in rear of Bellewaarde Lake during the morning as ground they covered was continually shelled. A message was sent asking Brigade for more S.A.A as rifle fire was brisk at all times.
1.30pm: One platoon of 4 R. Bd was sent up as reinforcements (and the support trench gave them a cheer as they came up) and placed them on our extreme right in order to watch our flank as we were unable from trench to overlook this ground. They were in line with our support trench behind trees & hedge. They also sent a machine gun and section that did good service.
2pm: I went with Orderly to Bellewaarde Lake dugouts as ordered by Brigade to telephone G.O.C 80th Intry Bde complete details of the situation returning at 2.30pm. Orderlies accompanying me both going and coming were hit by high explosive shells.
3pm: A platoon of K.S.L.I. under an officer reached our support line with 20 boxes S.A.A which was distributed. This party also acted as reinforcement & occupied left end of support trench.
4pm: Made tour of support trenches & found we were out of touch with Regt on our left, a gap of fifty yards was unoccupied and placed 8 men in this gap to inform me of happenings there. Shortly afterward I was informed that Monmouth Regt on left of K.O.Y.L.I had withdrawn to trenches 300 yards in rear and about 5.30 was informed that K.O.Y.L.I had also withdrawn to same line of trenches.
Another attempt by Germans to advance was stopped by our rifle fire although some reached our trench on right that could not be observed from our support trench but I believe at this time there were none of our men alive at this point.
11.30pm: We were relieved by 3rd K.R.R.C who gave us assistance to bury our dead that were in support & communication trenches as it was impossible and imprudent to attempt to reach the fire trench.
Our casualties were as follows: Killed Lieut Edwards. Died of wounds, Lieut Crawford Missing Lieut Dennison & Lieut Lane. Wounded (6 + 203). Major Gault, Capt Adamson, Capt Hill, Lieut De Bay, Lieut Martine, Lieut Triggs. Other Ranks 93 killed, 79 missing and 203 wounded.
9th to 11th May 1915
S of Railway - 9 May 1915: Btn had orders to withdraw to G.H.Q. trenches S of Railway & we started at 2.30am. Lieut Niven, Lieut Papinear?, Lieut Clark Lieut Vanden Berg. On arrival at G.H.Q line we were ordered to proceed to Lille Gate – Ypres and occupy ground at ramparts there. During the day we were shelled and lost 5 killed and 9 wounded.
Ypres – 10 May 1915: Ypres all day, in wiring furnished & carrying party for SAA. 50 men and one officer delivered 25 boxes SAA to trenches at Bellewaarde Lake. Casualties 1 killed and 2 wounded. Furnished a digging party of 100 men under Lt Clarke who constructed part of support trench S of GHQ line.
Ypres – 11 May 1915: Ypres all day & received orders to proceed to Busseboom
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