Name
William Percy (Piercy) Harragin
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/11/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
attd. King's African Rifles
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery
VIII.B.1
Tanzania
Headstone Inscription
THE LORD LOOKETH FROM HEAVEN HE BEHOLDETH ALL THE SONS OF MEN PSALM 33.V.13
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, All Saints Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, Abingdon School War Plaque, Oxfordshire
Pre War
William Percy (or Piercy) Harragin was born in 1884 the son of William and Mary Harrragin. He was one of five children, although only four were living in 1911.
His parents were living at 60 Charles Street, Berkhamsted in 1911. His father had been born in Trinidad, West Indies and his mother and sister Lilian born in British Guiana (now Guyana). His parents had married there in 1880 and it is likely that William was born there also.
He was educated at Roysses School, Abingdon, Oxon. He is recorded in 1898 and 1900 travelling on the 'Sargasso' from London to Demerara, British Guiana where his parents were living.
He was already an army officer when he joined the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Berkhamsted in August 1914 at which time his address was given as Charing Cross, SW1.
He married Wilhelmina Florence (surname unknown) and they had a child Norah Mary Harragin born in 1914.
William's home address was given as 145 Ivor Road, Sparkhill at the time of probate and his widow later lived at 'Massater', The Beach, Shoreham by Sea.
Wartime Service
He served in France from 9 December 1915 until 1 July 1917, as Lieutenant with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 11th Battalion, and was then attached to King's African Rifles in East Africa from 27 August 1917 to 1 November 1918.
William died from influenza (source medal rolls) on 1 November 1918, aged 34 and is buried in Dar Es Salaam (Upanga Road) Cemetery, Tanzania.
Additional Information
His widow was granted probate of his estate on 8 January 1919 with effects of £500, she also ordered his headstone inscription while living at The Beach, Shoreham by Sea, Sussex, it reads: "THE LORD LOOKETH FROM HEAVEN HE BEHOLDETH ALL THE SONS OF MEN PSALM 33.V.13",
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild. www.masonicgreatwarproject.org.uk
