Percy George Thomas
Memorial: Iron Acton - St James the Less Church
Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 23578
Parents: William and Caroline Thomas
Home address: The Green, Iron Acton, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: General Labourer
Date of birth: 1891
Place of birth: Iron Acton, Bristol
Date of death: 09/05/1917
Buried/Commemorated at: Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle (Ref III. C. 11.), France
Age: 26
Further information:
Percy George Thomas was a 26-year-old general labourer and the son of William (also a general labourer) and Caroline (a seamstress) living on The Green, Iron Acton in Bristol
Percy served as a private in the 15th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, he was killed on 9th May 1917. The 15th Battalion was in trenches near Fresnoy and on the 8th and 9th was involved in attacks to try and take the village and nearby Fresnoy Wood. They attacked at 1.am under a creeping barrage that proved too slow and led to casualties. Despite some initial success in reaching the village and the wood the Battalion was forced to withdraw to less exposed positions back in the jumping-off trenches. 137 other ranks were wounded and Percy was one of the seven who were killed during the attack. Percy’s original battlefield grave was marked by a cross and his body was reburied on 21st October 1919 within Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle, France
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Yate and District Heritage Centre, Forces War Records and CWGC