Percy Astill
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Percy was born about 1887, the third son of Robert William and Arabella Sarah Astill. In 1901 Robert and Arabella and their four children, William Hayes (9), Cyril (6), Percy (3) and Bernard (1), together with Robert's brother, Albert Edward (26, brewer) and mother in law, Emma/Emmaline Hayes (69), lived at 28 Clayton Street, Meadows. Robert worked on the railway and in 1911 was a railway fireman. By 1911 Percy's parents, who had had two more children, Gwendoline (9) and Leslie (6), were living with their six children and Arabella's mother at 48 Newcastle Road, Meadows. All the children apart from Percy were born in Nottingham. The family later lived at 9 Bruce Grove, Meadows; the address held by the army in October 1919 and also the address on the CWGC record.
Percy's army service record survives. He attested in Nottingham on 24 August 1914 at the age of 19 years 85 days; he was living at home. On enlistment he joined the 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters. He was on Home Service from 24 August to 9 May 1916, (service record for this period illegible apart from dates of transfer), embarking 10 May 1916 for France. He joined the base depot at Etaples the following day. Within two weeks he was admitted to 24/G.H. suffering from a sprained ankle as the result of an accident on 24 May during bayonet fighting at No 1 Training Camp in Etaples. He transferred to the Con. Depot on 18 June and joined the battalion on 7 July 1916. He was wounded in action on 28 September 1916, and was treated by the 2nd Field Ambulance for a shrapnel wound to his left arm. He died of wounds on 3 October 1916 and is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension (grave ref III.D.12). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
a.k.a 'Astil' and 'Astell' (1911 census) Nottingham Post obituary (abridged), 23 October 1916: 'Astill. Died of wounds October 3rd 1916, Private Percy Astill, third son of Mr and Mrs RW Astill, age 19.'
