Name
Percy Worboys
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/11/1914
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7144
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bengeo memorials
Pre War
Born on 11th June 1879, in Kiln Lane, Ashwell, to parents Charles Edward and Rachel, he was one of ten and in 1881 they were living in Hitchin Road, Letchworth, his father was an agricultural labourer.
By 1891 they had moved to Cold Harbour, Harpenden, and his father was now a general labourer. In 1911 they were living at 3 Newcombe Street, Harpenden and his father was now a jobbing gardener and Percy was a shunter on a railway.
Percy married Ada E Woodward in 1912 in St Matthews Church, Luton, he was still shown to be resident in Luton when he died.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in Bedford, the battalion was stationed at Mullingar, Ireland, and they moved to Le Havre on 16th August. They took part in the major battles of the early stages of the war including, Mons and Le Cateau in August, and the battles of the Marne and the Aisne in September.
In October they fought at the Battle of La Bassee near Givenchy. The following month they were involved in the First Battle of Ypres.
On 7th November they were attacked by German forces who broke through the British line, adjacent to the Bedfordshire Regt., they were driven back following a counter attack, during the day the battalion suffered 147 casualties, one of whom was Percy.
It took some 5 months for the MOD to advise his wife of his death. Ada contacted them on 5 different occasions between November 1914 and March 1915 and each time received a letter in response. These varied from 'we believe he is alive and well', to 'he is missing in action' to the final letter in March 1915 finally advising her of her husband’s death back on 7th November 1914.
Ada had been trying to contact Percy to advise him of the birth of their daughter, sadly who he never would have had an opportunity to meet, and by the accounts his granddaughter, Helen, it would appear he died not knowing of her birth. She also has the original letters from the MOD to her great grandmother and she treasures.
Additional Information
According to UK Soldiers Who Died in the Great War Percy Worboys was born in Bengeo, hence he is on this list, but we can find no records for him there at any time and the Percy of Ashwell, above, is a more likely candidate, if anyone knows more please ge
Acknowledgments
Terry & Glenis Collins, Helen McLean
