No.M2/114858, Private, Percy WALLIS
Aged 29
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Percy Wallis was born in Hengrave (Thingoe Q4-1887 4A:687), son of Benjamin and Mary WALLIS (née PALFREY).
1891 census...Aged 3, he was at Coal Yards, Hengrave with his father Benjamin WALLIS [29] a groom born Fordnham All Saints; his mother Mary [27] born Fornham All Saints and sister Ella [1] born Hengrave. 1901 census...Aged 13, domestic page, he was at Hengrave Street with his parents; sister Ella and brothers Bertie [6] and Ted[2], both born in Hengrave. 1911 census...Aged 23, he was a footman at Emmetts, Ide Hill,Sundridge, Sevenoaks for Frederic LUBBOCK. His parents and brothers Bertie (motor groom) and Ted were still in Hengrave. His address at probate was Hengrave. |
| He enlisted in Inverness, resident in Bury St Edmunds.
Percy died at 47th Field Ambulance. As he was also A.S.C. there is little chance of finding where or when exactly he was wounded. It was during the 1st Battle of the Scarpe around Arras. The Bury Free Press of 26th May 1917 reported:- THE LATE PRVT P.WALLIS OF HENGRAVE The following is the letter received by the parents of Pvt.Wallis from the motor drivers at the front:- "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Wallis;-You will no doubt be surprised to to receive a letter written by a strange hand. As a matter of fact, this letter is form the hearts of the chauffeurs at D.H.2 who have always had the pleasure of working with your dear son Percy. We always called him our "Little Man" and, indeed, he was, and is , well known throughout the Division from the drivers to the Generals, so much was he thought of. I cannot express by merely writing how much he was respected. In bad times he was always smiling and ever ready to do his job, which was a pleasure to him. He thought a great deal of us all and we thought the world of him and always shall. You will have heard by this time from another source, and knowing your distress, we thought you would like to hear form his own chums.Our intention being to try if we can to convey to you our sympathy with the very unhappy circumstances you have so suddenly and drastically been plunged. Last Thursday, April 12th, in the afternoon, 2 o'clock, Percy was ordered, having to take an officer very near the seat of operations. Towards evening he had not returned and we naturally became anxious. It was very late when we first heard of the sad news. We could not realise it,and were too shocked to think what to do. We however made enquiries to make sure, only to find the worst had happened. The car was passing through one of the streets of the town when a shell came and destroyed it, killing Percy and the officer. We had his funeral here on Sunday April 15th in the presence of his officers and chums and they were laid to rest side by side. Percy was carried to his grave by his chums.....The Chauffeurs of D.B." B.E.F. |
photo: Rodney Gibson photo: Rodney Gibson
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