Pte 204632 Percy Kelly

• Age: 35
• From: Scarborough
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Percy Kelly was born in 1881 in Scarborough and was the son of Edward Kelly and his wife Ann Jane (nee Perry) who were married in 1880, location unknown.

On the 1881 census the family are living at 7 Cross Street, Scarborough. Percy's father Edward is aged 27, a bread baker born in Douglas, Isle of Man, his mother Annie. J. is 24 years old and is a dressmaker born in Dublin. They have a son Edward R. aged 10 months born in Scarborough.

By the time of the 1891 census the family have moved and  are living at 9 Warren Street, Liverpool. His father, Edward, is showing as being aged 34, his  mother Ann. J.  is also shown as being 34, children born Scarborough - Edward R. 10, Percy is aged 9, William H. 8, Ernest G. 6, born Liverpool - John R. 5, Charles P. 5, Catherine W. 2, and Arthur H. 5mths. They also have a visitor, his mother's sister, Catherine Perry aged 31 and born in Mullingar, Ireland.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 35, Soho Street, Liverpool. His father, Edward, is aged 46, born 1855 is still a baker . His wife Ann Jane is aged 44, born 1857 is a dressmaker and was born in Ireland. They have eight children, Percy aged 19, born 1882 is a small ware dealer and Ernest aged 16, born 1885 is employed as a printing ink maker, and both were both born in Scarborough, John aged 15 born 1886 is an apprentice, Catherine aged 12 born 1889, Arthur aged 10, born 1891, Philip aged 8, born 1893, Nora aged 6, born 1895 and James aged 4, born 1897 who were all born in Liverpool. They have a domestic servant Jane Wagstaffe aged 65, born 1836 in Liverpool.

Percy married Annie Banning on the 24th April 1904 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. Percy was a 22 year old hawker of William Henry Street, Annie was 21 of Scotland Road, father William. Their first child Percy died in infancy in 1904, and also twins Percy and William in 1909.

The 1911 Census shows Percy and his family living at 4 Grace Terrace, Birkenhead. Percy is aged 29 born in 1882 and his occupation as manager and buyer for a Hardware and Tool Dealer. His wife Annie is aged 28 born 1883 in Birmingham and employed as a Manager of a Tool and Hardware Stall. They have two children both born in Liverpool, Edward aged 5 born 1906 and Ada aged 4 born 1907. They have a female domestic servant May Rikon aged 17 born 1894 also living at the property.

Another son Harold was born on the 25th July 1911, their address Cleveland Street, Birkenhead, then Annie was born in 1913, and eventually another Percy in 1915 who survived.

He enlisted in Birkenhead and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 204632 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 35, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August.   

Percy was reported missing in the Birkenhead News on 17th September 1917:

MISSING

King's Liverpool Regiment - Pte P. Kelly, 204632(Birkenhead); 

His parents place and appeal for information in the Liverpool Echo on 16th July 1918:

MISSING - INFORMATION WANTED.

KELLY - Missing since July 31, 1917, Rifleman PERCY KELLY, 204632, King's Liverpool Regiment. Anyone in the same engagement, that knew him, kindly communicate with his Parents - 27 Celia Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool.

Percy's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Annie and children Edward, Ada, Harold and Annie (there is no mention of Percy).

Probate was granted in 1918:-

KELLY - Percy of 1 Monk Road, Birkenhead private in the 18th King's Liverpool Regiment died 31 July 1917 in France Administration Chester 6th July to Annie Louise Kelly widow. Effects £226 15s 4d.

His widow, Annie, remarried in 1922 to Myer Bernstein and they had two children Doreen(1922) and Pearl(1925).

His parents were still living at 27 Celia Street, Kirkdale by 1925.

His mother, Ann, died aged 68in 1925 , as did his father, Edward, aged 73.

Annie died, aged 80, in 1963.

He is also commemorated on the Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square.

We currently have no further information on Percy Kelly, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to Ancestry member Steve Kelly for permission for us to be able to use the photo of Percy Kelly now hel on this site.