Percy William Arthur May
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Percy William Arthur was the son of Frank and Lucy Elizabeth Grace May (née Argile/Argyle). His father Frank was born in Ingham, Lincolnshire, in 1855, the son of George and Mary May; he was baptised in Ingham on 8 April 1855. Lucy Elizabeth Grace Argyle was born in Mansfield in 1858 (O/N/D Mansfield, registered Argile). They were married on 10 July 1878 at Mansfield SS Peter and Paul and had six children of whom two died in infancy. All their children were baptised at SS Peter and Paul parish church: Mary Jane b. 1879 (J/A/S Mansafield bap. 9 November 1879; Frank Ernest b. 28 September 1855 bap. 18 October 1885; Lucy Ellen birth registered 1887 (J/F/M Mansfield) bap. 6 February 1887 d. 1887 (A/M/J Mansfield); Ethel Nellie birth reigstered 1891 (J/F/M Mansfield bap. 14 March 1891 d. 1891 (J/F/M Mansfield); Lilian Grace b. 10 February 1893 bap. 26 March 1893 and Percy William Arthur b. 1896 (J/A/S Mansfield) bap. 19 July 1896. At the time Mary Jane was baptised in 1879 her parents were living at Grove Terrace, Mansfield. However, in 1881 Lucy May (22) and her daughter Mary Jane (1) were recorded on the census at Stone Row, Mansfield, in the home of her mother Jane Stocks (husband Absolom Stocks) and her unmarried sisters Mary (18) and Sarah J Argile (14) and Ellen Jones (11). When Frank Ernest was baptised in 1885 his parents were living at 5 Grove Terrace but on Grove Street at the time of the census in 1891 where Frank and Lucy were living with their two surviving children, Mary (11) and Frank (5). There were also two boarders in the household. Frank snr. was employed as a chemist's warehouseman. By 1901 Frank and Lucy were living at 30 Highfield Terrace, Portland Street, Mansfield, with Mary a boot machinist and Frank who was still at school. Their two youngest children, Lilian and Percy, have not yet been traced on the census. There were two boarders in the household. The family had moved to 8 Garfield Terrace, Portland Street, by 1911; Frank was now working as a chemist's traveller. Only Lilian, a machinist in the shoe trade, and Percy, a fitters' apprentice at an iron foundry were still living at home. Frank and Lucy were living at 8 Portland Street, Mansfield, when Percy was killed in 1915. In May 1919 when he completed a form for the army listing his son's surviving blood relatives he and Lucy were still living at 8 Portland Street. He gave the following details about their three surviving children: Brother: Frank (33) 25 Gladsone Street, Mansfield Sisters: Mary Wilkinson (39) 1592 Roy Avenue Winnipeg, [Manitoba], Canada and Lilian Lancashire (26) 8 Portland Street Mansfield Both Frank snr. and Lucy Elizabeth died in 1933 (J/F/M Mansfield. Mary Jane had married Jesse Wilkinson in 1903 (A/M/J Mansfield). They probably emigrated to Canada before the war and in 1916 at the time of Canada's census Mary Wilkinson was registered in Manitoba which confirms the details of her address in Canada given by her father in 1919. She died on 17 May 1926 and was buried in Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg. Frank Ernest had a son, Frank T. in 1916 (O/N/D Mansfield, mother's maiden name Mellors); no record of his marriage has yet been found. In 1919 his father recorded his son's address as 25 Gladstone Street, Mansfield, and this was still Frank Ernest's address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. He was a colliery turbine attendant and living with his wife Miriam (b. 10 February 1887) and son Frank (b. 9 September 1916) who was a machinist in a shoe factor. Frank died in 1955 (O/N/D Mansfield and his wife Miriam in 1963. Lilian married Albert James Lancashire in 1913 (A/M/J Mansfield) and they had a son, Albert on 2 January 1914. Albert James probably worked at a colliery before enlisting. However, he joined Nottinghamshire Constabulary in about 1919 and was stationed at Chilwell for a few months before returning to Mansfield. He died on 30 April 1923 following an operation at Nottingham General Hospital; he had been in failing health as a consequence of being gassed during the war. His funeral was held at Mansfield Cemetery and his death and the funeral were reported in some detail in the Mansfield Reporter (4 May, 11 May). He and Lilian had lived at 41 Hall Street, Mansfield, but in 1939 she was living at 8 Portland Street, her parents' former home. Lillian married Edward Bratt in 1940 and died in 1979 (A/M/J Mansfield). Her son Albert probably died the same year (1979 A/M/J Mansfield).
'C' Company 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters Private Percy William Arthur May enlisted on 9th September 1914, which may have been his 18th birthday. He joined on a Territorial Force engagement of 4 years but transfered the same day to embodied service and posted to the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). He served at home from 9 September to 1 March 1915 and was then drafted to the BEF France, disembarking France on 2 March 1915. The 1/8th battalion was in the area of Kemmel in 1915 and early in June 'took over more of the J and K trenches, with the reserve company at Siege Farm and Battalion Headquarters at Rossignol Farm.' ('History of the 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters 1914-1919', Capt. WCC Weetman) On 15 June 1915 the enemy, whose trenches were within 60-70 yards of the battalion's front line, exploded three mines, one of which blew up a portion of J3 Right trench, killing at least two men. Some enemy soldiers got into the mine crater but were repelled by 'C' Company. The battalion's casualties that day included two officers, a corporal and eight men killed. Percy was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. D.72). He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace perfect peace' Percy's personal belonging were returned to his family: cigarette case, mouth organ, pocket case, photograph, prayer book, pencil and rosary. 1/8th Bn casualties, 15 June 1915: Lieutenant AFO Dobson (grave ref. D.64), Lieutenant WH Hollins (D.70), Corporal F Wilcox (D.71), Privates AE Armitage (D.65), B Cox (D.67), FW Hill (D.66), P May (D.72), RW Moakes (D.69) and W Richardson (D.68) buried Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery and Privates OL Bryan and A Cook commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Article published 22nd June 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “ANOTHER MANSFIELD SOLDIER KILLED. “There is another addition to the list of Mansfield men who have been killed at the front, news being received yesterday [21st June 1915] of the death of Private Percy May, who enlisted in the 8th Sherwood Foresters last September [1914]. The deceased is the son of Mr. Frank May, who has been associated with the volunteer and Territorial movement, and lately with the Volunteer Training Corps for period of over 40 years. Private May was well known in Mansfield, and much sympathy is felt with his family.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Mansfield Reporter, 25 June 1915: ‘PRIVATE PERCY MAY. Mr Frank May, an old Volunteer sergeant, who has been associated with the Volunteers, Territorials, Old Comrades, and now the Volunteer Training Corps for a period of 40 years, received the sad intelligence on Monday morning that his son, Percy, was killed along with other Mansfield lads at the front on Tuesday last. The information was contained in the following letter from Arthur Penford [305445 Private, killed 9 November 1918], one of his friends in the trenches:- ’It is with deepest regret that I write you these few lines. I offer you my sympathy on Percy’s death. He was killed in action on the 15th. You have one consolation, and that is that Percy died as a true and noble British solider. I was near him at the time he met his death. Percy was a great favourite among his platoon, and we have missed him very much indeed. It is the custom of the Battalion to share parcels containing eatables amongst the section, and the two parcels since received for him have been divided amongst his section. The NCO’s and men of my platoon ask me to convey their deepest sympathy to you in your sad bereavement.' Young May was only 19 years of age. He joined the 8th Sherwoods in September last and received his training at Newark, Luton, and Braintree, and went out to the front in February (sic). The lad was well-known in Mansfield being a native, and his father’s many friends extend sympathy to him on his sad loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 25 June 1915: ‘The 8th Sherwoods Badly Damaged. This interesting letter has been received by Mrs Wilson, wife of Ald. JL Wilson, from her son who is at the front. In the letter, which refers to the death of Lance Corporal Charlie Wilson, he adds that he attended Charlie’s burial ‘in a special ground we have in a village, just behind our lines’ [Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery] Just as we were waiting for the chaplain (about 9.15pm) there came from the trenches a terrific report, followed by two others almost instantly. At the same time the sky was lighted up by [a] tremendous flash, followed by a continuous roar of rifle fire and artillery. Of course, we knew immediately that it was a mine blown up, and that it must have been a German one, too. I cannot describe to you what it was like, but for at least an hour the roar was simply deafening.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Mansfield Reporter, 25 June 1915: ‘8th Sherwood Foresters Ranks Thinned. Towards the end of last week Mansfield and district received bad news of her sons fighting in France … The first intelligence received tht the 8th Sherwood Foresters’ Battalion had been in the thick of the fighting, announced the death of Lieut. Humphrey Hollins, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Wm Hollins, Berry Hill … Then came the sad intelligence of other brave lads’ deaths: Corporal Wilson and Privates Frank Hill, Armitage, (of Carter Lane), and Spademan. On the same day Private Percy May was killed, but it was not until Monday of this week that his father was apprised of the fact. News had reached the town prior to that, but the parents had received no offiicial or reliable information, and consequently they hoped that the rumour was groundless.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
