PRIVATE PERCY GEORGE WARD: 20367
1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment
Percy was born in Gosport, Hampshire, although his father, James was from Bridport.
Percy had a very fragmented early life. After the birth of his younger brother Harry, Percy’s mother died, and the family was split up. Harry went to live with his grandmother Mary Way in 18 Rope walks, Bridport, while Percy went to the other side of the country to be looked after by his aunt and uncle – Ellen and Harry Clark , in Kent.
James re-married and he and his second wife Rose and her two children, moved to Bridport. Percy and Harry joined them there and the new family made their home at 24 North Allington.
Percy and his father took up work in the rope and net industry – James as a yarn bleacher with Percy aged fourteen, employed as a general twine worker. He did not stay in Bridport however – moving out and returning to Hampshire which is where he enlisted with the Hampshire Regiment after war had been declared.
The 1st Battalion was posted to France and Flanders and in the Spring of 1917, Percy was serving in the Arras sector – an area of sustained, heavy fighting throughout the hostilities.
On April 9th a new offensive started around the town of Arras and the Vimy Ridge.
On that first morning, the 1st Battalion was advancing towards the German lines when they took a direct hit from an exploding shell, suffering 20 casualties.
Among those casualties was Percy.
He died on April 9th, 1917, aged just 22.
Percy is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais.