Percy John Mayes was born in Sudbury, Suffolk the first son and second child of Henry, an agricultural labourer, and Emma Mayes. Altogether they would have 7 children, 4 boys and 3 sisters. In 1891 the family were living at 25 Cross Street, Sudbury and by 1901 were living at 5 Elliston Yard in Ballingdon, Suffolk. By 1911 he was living in Billericay and working as a baker’s assistant in a bakery on the High Street. His employer was Mrs Pannell; also working in the shop was her son Thomas Pannell, KIA on the Somme, July 1916.

Sometime after, Percy would move to Oswestry; it is not known why, but probably for work. He first enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps at Ongar, giving Oswestry as his residence. He would later transfer into 11 Bn Manchester Regiment – possibly joining them when the battalion returned from the Middle East to France in July 1916.

When in Oswestry he met and married Gladys Gwendoline Bebbington (nee Lawrence) in 1917. They would live at her parent’s home, Chapel House, Chapel Street, Oswestry. Gladys had worked as a housemaid and servant at Beechfield, Oswestry, the family home of Captain T C Wynne Minshall. Gladys’s brother was Private 7121 Samuel Richard Lawrence .

Percy was KIA on the 9 October 1918 during the 100 Day Offensive at the Battle of Cambrai at Abancourt north of Cambrai. The battalion was to support an attack by the Canadian Corps and to form a defensive flank to protect the Canadian’s advance and were then to occupy the village of Abancourt. Patrols were sent out to establish the position and they then moved onto the village. Percy was killed during the action whilst helping a wounded comrade, total casualties were 4 ranks killed and 8 wounded. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on Vis en Artois Memorial. Percy is also listed at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry and is on Sudbury War Memorial.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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