Percy Barber Thompson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
His birth was registered in 1896 (J/A/S Nottingham) but the RN record gives his date of birth as 11 August 1895. The CWGC record incorrectly names him as Paul Thomson and his parents as Arthur S and Mary E Thomson of 134 Egypt Road, New Basford. Percy Barber Thompson was the son of Arthur Shelton Thompson and Mary Eliza Thompson nee Barber. His father was born in 1872 (O/N/D Nottingham) and his mother in 1878 (O/N/D Basford), the daughter of Arthur and Jane Barber. Arthur Shelton and Mary Eliza were married in 1896 (J/A/S Nottingham) and had six children of whom only five survived: Percy Barber, Janet Walters b 22 October 1898 (1898 O/N/D Nottingham), Maria Walters b. 13 June 1900 (1900 J/A/S Nottingham), Frank Arthur b. 1903 (J/A/S Nottingham) and Walter Edward b. 19 April 1910 (1910 A/M/J Nottingham). In 1901 Arthur Thompson (28), a collier, his wife Mary (22) and their three children, Percy B (4), Janet W (2) and Maria W (9 months), were living with Mary's parents, Arthur Barber (41) a post office clerk and his wife Jane (40) at 93 Trent Road, Sneinton. By 1911 Arthur (38) a lamp cleaner (colliery) and Mary (32) were living at 1 Moreland Avenue, Moreland Street, Meadows, with their five children: Percy Barber (14) a litho printer's apprentice, Janet Walters (12) Maria Walters (10), Frank Arthur (7) and Walter Edward (11 months). At the time of Percy's death in 1917 his parents were living at 134 Egypt Road, New Basford. His father died in 1954 (Jun Nottingham) aged 82. Of Percy's siblings: Janet Walters married Horace Richmond in 1915 (O/N/D Nottingham) and died in 1971 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 72. Maria Walters probably married (1) Joseph Waring (1918 J/A/S Nottingham) and (2) Arthur Scrimshaw (1947 J/A/S Nottingham) and died in 1975 (Jun Nottingham) aged 75. Walter Edward died in 1982 (Dec Nottingham) aged 72. Frank Arthur may have emigrated to America as there are linked records in the USA from 1920.
D Company 13th Platoon Drake Battalion Royal Naval Division. Service Number Bristol Z/4785 (RN records) but Bristol Z/4755 (CWGC). He enlisted on 1 December 1915 and was drafted for the British Expeditionary Force on 31 July 1916, joining Drake Battalion RND. He was taken ill with influenza in November 1916 (15 November 1916-22 January 1917) and did not rejoin his battalion until 3 March 1917. The following month he was reported missing in action and later reported killed. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial (Panel Reference: Bay 1).
The RN notified his mother, Mary Eliza Thomson of 134 Egypt Road, of his death. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 14 July 1917: ‘Thompson. Killed in action, April 23rd, 1917, AB Percy Barber Thompson, aged 21, RND, grandson of Mr A Barber and the late Mrs A Barber, late of 93, Trent-road, Sneinton.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: Jane Barber died 1910 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 50
