Military History

Percy is listed as being killed in action on 21st March 1918, having originally been listed as missing. The 2nd/5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 20th to 22nd March are transcribed below.

Ugny – 20 Mar 1918: Work on Battle zone. Situation quiet

Holnon Wood – 21 Mar 1918 – 4.30am: Enemy bombardment opens and continues until 11.30am with HE and gas. Weather misty until midday. Battn ordered to man battle stations at 5am. At 1pm enemy break through Forward Zone from line 500x in front of Battle Zone.

No attack on Battle Zone. Dispositions B Coy right front, A Coy left front, C Coy counter attack. D Coy passive defense. Lt. Howell & 2/Lts Thomas & Jackson wounded.

Holnon Wood – 22 Mar 1918 – 1am: Enemy patrol entire line between A & B Coys commence bombing up trenches towards B Coy’s keep. 1 Coy 17 K.L.R attached to Bn sent to reinforce B Coy. At 9am enemy open bombardment of Battle Zone.

11am: Enemy reported assembling about Otter Copse, they attack Brigade on left& break through on to ridge N of Maisney de Garde down to Marteville Road thus outflanking A Coy. Bn HQ forced to withdraw to edge of Sword Wood owing to M.G fire on dug out. D Coy ordered to hold on to their positions.

Orders received from Brigade to withdraw. Coy’s withdraw through Wood covered by D Coy across railway between Attilly & Martenville. Bn HQ withdrew across the railway to Beauvois. Enemy then occupying Attilly and sweeping ground with M.G fire. Gradual retirement to Vaux-Villeveque Line. Battalion on right of Brigade, 182 Brigade on our right.