Name
Percy Reginald Bonner
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
2556
2/15th London (Princess of Wales Own, Civil Service Rifles)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Percy Bonner and his brother Richard both enlisted with the 15th Battalion of the London Regiment – the Civil Service Rifles – whilst the battalion was based in and around Bedmond at the outbreak of war in August 1914. Percy was born in the autumn of 1891 at Hackney, London. His parents, Richard and Annie Bonner, had six children – four sons and two daughters. Richard was employed as a Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police around the time of the 1901 Census, and the family lived at the Police Station at Borough High Street. By the time of the 1911 Census, Richard had retired from the Police and was living at Bletchley, with his wife, and youngest daughter. Percy remained in London, and lived at 10 Philip Lane (near Tottenham) and was employed as a Wholesale Drapery Assistant. But by 1914 Richard and his family had moved to Breakspeare Farm in Bedmond, and Percy gave this address when he enlisted on 31st August 1914. He attested and was given a Medical at Somerset House in London.
Percy was sent to France on 17th March 1915 and served with Civil Service Rifles (CSR) throughout the War. He was demobilised on 8th March 1919, giving his permanent address at 64 Tierney Road, Streatham. On 10th November 1915 his Service Record noted that he was suffering from “Shock”, and maybe he was hospitalised or even returned to England to recover as on 11th December 1915 he married Minnie Beatrice Wall at St John the Evangelist Church at Brixton. It is not known when he returned to France, or whether he went back to the Front, but on 31st March 1917 he was attached to the 1st Army School of Instruction, and on 7th April was absorbed into the establishment of that unit.
Percy must have returned to the Civil Service Rifles at some point and to action, as on 15th May 1918 he was reported wounded by a gun-shot wound, and on 23rd September 1918 he was transferred to 15 Casualty Clearing Station at St Omer, suffering from an abscess. He re-joined for duty on 1st July 1918 and served through to the Armistice in November.
On 7th February 1919 he returned to England to prepare for de-mobilisation, arriving the next day, and was de-mobilised on 8th March.
His brother, Charles Bonner, died of illness in France on 18th October 1918, and his brother in law, Frank Morton, died at sea returning from Egypt, the previous day, 17th October.
Percy Bonner survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
