Name
Percy William Merriman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/11/1914
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7206
Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 37 and 39.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Walter Leonard and Elizabeth Sarah (nee CHATTEY) MERRIMAN of Watford.
His parents married 1875 in the Kensington, London, district. Walter died 1921 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 7 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1930 in Watford aged 84, and was buried 19 November, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Percy was born 28 February 1884 in Winslow, Bucks, and attended Callowland Board School, Watford, from 5 May 1896 to 28 July 1898. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 7 he lived in Winslow, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, a printer’s assistant aged 16, he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census [name entered as PERRIMAN], he was a barman aged 26, a boarder in Watford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 14 August 1914, and was killed in action at Westhoed, Belgium.
Additional Information
There is an article about Percy in the Watford Illustrated dated 24 December 1914; plus In Memoriams in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 20 November 1915, 18 November 1916, 17 November 1917 and 16 November 1918.
Unfortunately, Percy’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
