Name
Percy Walter (Jock) Brackley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/03/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Drummer/Private
300674
Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY
Enclosure No. 4,Plot XIV, Row D, Grave 16.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford,
St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Jane (nee BROWN) BRACKLEY of Watford.
His parents married 1890 in the Amersham, Bucks, district. Jane died 18 October 1940 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 23 October in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Thomas died 8 December 1944 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 14 December, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Percy was born 20 December 1898 in Watford, and baptised 19 February 1899 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 14 September 1908 to 8 March 1913. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 2 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school and a newsboy aged 12, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 1 May 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
is also commemorated on the family headstone in Watford Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF PERCY WALTER [JOCK] A. AND S. HIGHLANDERS. BROTHER OF THE ABOVE [Amy Rose & Gordon Brackley], KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE. MARCH 10. 1918, AGED 19.
TO HIM WHO NOBLY STRIVING, NOBLY FELL, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE, HAIL, AND FAREWELL.
BURIED IN BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY YPRES.
Unfortunately, Percy’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Percy in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 30 March 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 8 March 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
