Burton, Percy Humphreys

Burton, Percy Humphreys 

Military History:

Regiment:                               Royal Garrison Artillery

Rank:                                      Gunner

Service Number:                    68258

Date of Enlisting:                   1.1916

Date of death:                        1989

Cemetery/ Memorial:            St Mary’s Church Cemetery, Ashwell

UK Cemetery/Memorial:       St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour

Percy enlisted at Hitchin, Hertfordshire in January 1916 with the Royal Garrison Artillery.  He served initially with the 230th Siege Battery, and later with the 59th Siege Batter. He saw active service on the Western Front, France and Flanders.  In September 1918 Percy suffered gunshot wounds to both hands and burns to his face and was admitted to the hospital in Boulogne but immediately transferred to the Fusehill Military Hospital in Carlisle.  Percy recovered and was discharged from the army on 9 May 1919.

Percy survived the War and died in Ashwell in 1989.

Percy was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Family History:

Date of Birth:                c1885

Birth Place:                   Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Residence:                    Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Marriage:                      1st quarter 1927

Percy was born in 1885 in Ashwell, Hertfordshire the third son of John Worboys Burton and Margaret Jane (nee Humphreys) Burton.  He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell, and before enlisting he was a gardener/footman in Ashwell.

Percy married Blanche Emma Turner in the first quarter of 1927. They had one daughter, Monica R, born on 18 February 1930 in Ashwell.

Percy’s brothers, Harry and John, both saw active service in the War and both survived to return home.

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