Stanley Percival Huggins
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Stanley Percival was the son of Henry Thomas and Eleanor Frances Huggins (neé Driscoll) who were married in 1883 (reg. St Saviour Southwark). Henry and Eleanor had ten children born between 1884 and 1897: Rosalind May, Eleanor Letitia, Olive Frances, Doris Elsie, Alice Bertha, Henry Randolph, Stanley Percival b. 1892, Mary Primrose b. 1894 d. 1906, Douglas Frank b. 1895 and Katherine Nora. The family lived in Braintree, Essex, in 1901 but had moved to Upminster by 1911. Thomas Henry Huggins was a seed merchant. Stanley named his father as his next of kin when he enlisted in 1914; his parents were living in Brentwood when their son enlisted but later moved to 'Southwood', Carnarvon Road, Clacton-on-Sea. The family home was still at the same address in May 1919 when Stanley's father completed a form for the army listing his son's surviving blood relatives: Parents: Henry Thomas and Eleanor Frances Huggins Brother: Henry Randolph (28) of North Finchley, London Sisters: Rosalind May (34), Eleanor Letitia (33), Olive Frances (32), Alice Bertha (29) and Katherine Nora (22) all of 'Southwood', Carnarvon Road, Clacton-on-Sea, and Doris Elsie Huggins (30) [m. Arthur Huggins 1912] of Enfield Middx. Stanley's sister, Mary Primrose, had died in 1906 aged about 11 and his brother, Douglas Frank had served as a captain with the 1st City of London Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) and been killed in action on 29 August 1918 (Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery Souchez). His sister Alice Bertha was a staff nurse in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve during the war and his brother Henry Randolph also probably served. Stanley's mother, Eleanor Frances, died in 1919 and his father Henry Thomas in 1927..
Stanley Percival enlisted on 16 September 1914. He had previously served in the 5th London Rifle Brigade (TF) but had been discharged at his own request. He served in France from 2 March 1915 and was shot and killed on 14 October 1915. He was buried in Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, Pas de Calais, France (grave ref. VII.B.5). Stanley qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Stanley Percival is also commemorated on: WMR 22706 St Paul Clacton on Sea and WMR 22697 Clacton on Sea Essex. Extract from the website, www.aksplough.co.uk: 'Following his death an officer wrote he was a in a quiet way one of the leading spirits of the platoon, and knew better than any one how to keep the others going in times of stress and exhaustion. I kept catching him in small acts of kindness ... carrying an extra rifle at the end of along march, or sitting up with a lonely sentry ... The same officer recounted episodes of bravery, which was reported in full in the Society’s Newsletter [Society of the Sacred Mission]: I do know whether you heard of it, but on June 15th when one of our trenches was blown up, he and another man who were in charge of the telephone behaved with great gallantry. Their instrument was smashed and the wires cut. ... they went straight out across the open, found and mended the broken wire and got a reserve instrument. … After the enemy’s position had been stormed and taken by our division [13th October 1915] the company he was attached to endeavoured in the early morning of the 14th to get across to the relief of their comrades, and while thus doing his duty he was killed by a bullet wound. He passed away very quickly, and from what I gather suffered very little pain. Personally, I feel the loss very keenly, for not only was he a good soldier, always ready to do more than his bit, but to anyone who knew him intimately his upright Christian character was something to admire and a noble example to follow.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father, Henry Thomas Huggins, was his sole legatee Probate: Huggins Eleanor Frances of Southwood Carnarvon-road Clacton-on-Sea Essex (wife of Henry Thomas Huggins died 4 August 1919 Administration London 5 November to Rosalind May Huggins spinster. Effects £162 19s. 9d. Former Grant PR 29 August 1919 Probate: Huggins Henry Thomas of Plympton Baddow-road Chelmsford died 25 May 1927 Probate London 14 July to Rosalind May Huggins spinster and Arthur Macpherson Erat Huggins secretary. Effects £8326 1s. 11d.
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