Bryant, Percy

Percy Briant

Percy was born in Ashwell on 4 February 1890, second son of Frederick and Mary Ann (nee Chalkley) Bryant. Percy was a pupil atthe Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Percy enlisted with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 13 September 1915 at Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, Regimental Number 522866. He first served with the 1^st Field Ambulance B Section on the Western Front, France and Flanders. By March 1918 he had been promoted to Acting Staff Sergeant. In August 1918 he was on commission to the RAF in Blandford, Kent and reverts back to the rank of Private. In December 1918 he is on command to 81 Squadron and is granted permission to marry. He spends the next year as a mechanic finishing the war as Acting Sergeant, and is discharged from the Airforce in February 1920. Percy survived the War.

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

Before enlisting he was a carpenter.

Percy emigrated to Canada in about 1913/14 and enlisted in the Canadian army in 1915. At the end of the War Percy returned to England.

Percy married Florence Lily Gains in Elham, Kent in the first quarter of 1919. They had one daughter, Mona Evelyn, born at Ware in the 3^rd quarter of 1922.

In his father’s probate record of 1932 Percy is recorded as a millwright. The 1939 census how him living in Ware, Hertfordshire, a Foreman Millwright (flour milling)

Percy died in Northallerton, Yorkshire on 10 March 1977, as shown in his will.

Percy’s brother Henry William served with the Royal Engineers during WWI and survived the War, dying in Walthamstow on 11 September 1965.

Royston Crow February 1914 Letter to Mr Chote, headmaster at M.T. from Percy Bryant, now in Victoria B.C. Canada telling of his life and work as a builder.

Royston Crow 31 Jan 1919 At Folkestone. Sgt Percy Bryant, younger son of Mr & Mrs Frederick Bryant of Ashwell to Florence Lily Gains of Folkestone.