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I have been in several engagements with the Germans and
have toppled a few of them over with my rifle. Early one morning,
there was one of them building his trench up, and I happened to
spot him. An officer came past at the time, so I said: “I have got
a chance here”. He said: “Let fly at him.” He was about 70 yards
away from our trench and I was just taking my aim when I was
spotted, the bullet striking the sandbag I was resting on. I let go
then, and knocked him right over. I never saw him again, so I
think I put him to rest. We have to be very careful going in and
out of the trenches. They send the lights up in the air, and can
see every movement, and open rapid fire. We lost six going in
a few nights ago. I must tell you all what I have seen and done
if ever I have the luck to get back, but it’s different from shooting
rabbits in woods.’
Whilst on the Western Front Percy would have fought at Loos
and been involved at the Hohenzollern Redoubt battles.
The 2nd Battalion East Surrey’s were part of 28th Division and
in October 1915 they were withdrawn from the Western Front
and sent to Salonika, in Greece, where the Allies were fighting
the Bulgarians.
In 1916 they were involved in the occupation of Mazirko and the
capture of Barakli Jum’a.
In July of 1916 Percy contracted malaria whilst fighting in the
Strumica Valley area. He spent four sessions in field hospitals
and was eventually invalided to No 64 General Hospital on
Malta.
In 1917 the Division captured Barakli and Kumli.
In January of 1918 Percy was promoted to unpaid Lance
Corporal and a month later the unexpired portion of his sentence
was remitted for good conduct.
In September 1918 the 28th Division were in the battle of Dorian
and the pursuit to the Strumica Valley .
Hostilities with the Bulgarians ceased on 30th September
1918 and the Division moved firstly to Gallipoli and then to
Constantinople on 14th November 1918, just after the general
cease-fire.
213
have toppled a few of them over with my rifle. Early one morning,
there was one of them building his trench up, and I happened to
spot him. An officer came past at the time, so I said: “I have got
a chance here”. He said: “Let fly at him.” He was about 70 yards
away from our trench and I was just taking my aim when I was
spotted, the bullet striking the sandbag I was resting on. I let go
then, and knocked him right over. I never saw him again, so I
think I put him to rest. We have to be very careful going in and
out of the trenches. They send the lights up in the air, and can
see every movement, and open rapid fire. We lost six going in
a few nights ago. I must tell you all what I have seen and done
if ever I have the luck to get back, but it’s different from shooting
rabbits in woods.’
Whilst on the Western Front Percy would have fought at Loos
and been involved at the Hohenzollern Redoubt battles.
The 2nd Battalion East Surrey’s were part of 28th Division and
in October 1915 they were withdrawn from the Western Front
and sent to Salonika, in Greece, where the Allies were fighting
the Bulgarians.
In 1916 they were involved in the occupation of Mazirko and the
capture of Barakli Jum’a.
In July of 1916 Percy contracted malaria whilst fighting in the
Strumica Valley area. He spent four sessions in field hospitals
and was eventually invalided to No 64 General Hospital on
Malta.
In 1917 the Division captured Barakli and Kumli.
In January of 1918 Percy was promoted to unpaid Lance
Corporal and a month later the unexpired portion of his sentence
was remitted for good conduct.
In September 1918 the 28th Division were in the battle of Dorian
and the pursuit to the Strumica Valley .
Hostilities with the Bulgarians ceased on 30th September
1918 and the Division moved firstly to Gallipoli and then to
Constantinople on 14th November 1918, just after the general
cease-fire.
213
