Name
Percy Sidney Mathews
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/02/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
473359
London Regiment (The Rangers)
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. B. 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt memorials, Men of Waltham Abbey Memorial
Pre War
Percy Sidney Mathews was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, in 1895, son of George Mathews a, Carpenter & Joiner and Rose Alice (Morton) Mathews. One of seven children although two died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 16th June 1895, at Waltham Cross, Herts. At the time the family were living at 23 Cecil Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
1901 Census records Percy aged 5, living with his parents, brothers William (7), Albert (3) and sister Hetty (1) at 19 Victoria Villas, Waltham Abbey, Essex.
1911 Census, Percy (16), has left school and is working as a Nurseryman, living with his parents, brothers William (17), Albert (13), sisters Hetty (11) and Elsie (8), still at 19 Victoria Villas, Waltham Abbey.
Wartime Service
Percy enlisted in London in April 1916, posted to the 16th (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment with the service number 6261.
On completion of his training, he was sent to France arriving on 13th August 1916. He was transferred to the 12th (The Rangers) Battalion, London Regiment on 19th September 1916, with the service number 7126, later 473359.
He drowned on the 17th February 1917, aged 20, the details of his drowning are not known. He is buried in the Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, Merville, Nord, France.
Additional Information
His effects of £6-6-5, pay owing and his war gratuity went to his father George Mathews.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
