Percy Crofts Ottley
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Worksop Guardian 14 December 1917 The sad news received on Friday of the death in action of Pte. Percy Crofts Ottley, London Scottish, cast a gloom over Blyth and district, where he was well known and loved by all. He had a fine personality, and was a great lover of sport. He was educated at Doncaster Grammar School, and at 16 entered Beckett’s Bank, Doncaster, where he remained until April last, when he joined the London Scottish, and went out to France in September. He was the second son of Mr. W. H. Ottley, Ranskill Grange, and was 32 years of age. In 1909 he married Miss E.A.Camm, of Styrrup, and leaves a widow and one daughter. The greatest sympathy is felt for his widow and Mr. and Mrs. Ottley in their sad loss. Pte. Ottley took an interest in ringing, and his old comrades rang a muffled peal on Blyth bells on Sunday.
He joined the Army on 3 February 1916 and trained for a year before being sent to France with the London Scottish Regiment in August 1917. Obviously a good soldier, he had been identified as a potential officer. At 8am on 23 November 1917 his unit attacked Tadpole Trench during the Battle of Cambrai. He was killed in action, and his body was never recovered. As one of 314,000 missing British and Commonwealth soldiers, Private Ottley's name was listed on the Cambrai Memorial.
CWG additional information:- Son of W. H. and J. Ottley, of Ranskill Grange, Doncaster; husband of Ethel A. Ottley, of 38, Christchurch Rd., Doncaster His name appears on both Blyth Church and Ranskill memorials record book and Window 1. Research by Colin Dannatt
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