Corporal 37829 Percy Bartlett

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 17th July 1918, age 20.
Buried in Grave III. D. 40. at Merville Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

'C' Company of 12th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment. 95th Brigade of 5th Division.
Formerly 6968 in 1/4th Gloucesters Regiment.

Son of Mr J. F. and Mrs S. Bartlett, of 127, Tredworth Rd., Gloucester. Born at Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Gloucester, Resident: Unknown.

First landed France & Flanders, 15th May 1917.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/539773/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Percy Bartlett registered in March quarter 1898 in West Bromwich.

1901 Census
4 Llandilo Street, Gloucester.
Joshua F. Bartlett (37, Fitter for Steam Engine Maker, born Newport, Mon), his wife Sarah (34, born Darlaston), and their 5 children: Augustus (14, Printer's Machinist, born Bilston), Ada (12, Scholar, born Bilston), Florence (8, Scholar, born Great Bridge), Edith (7, born Great Bridge), and Percy (3, born Great Bridge).

1911 Census
127 Tredworth Road, Gloucester.
Joshua Frank Bartlett (47, Cycle Repairer, born Newport, Mon), his second wife Annie (27, born Gloucester), Joshua's 2 children from his first marriage: Percy (13, born Great Bridge), and Beatrice (9, born Gloucester), and Joshua and Annie's daughter: Dorothy (4, born Gloucester).

Personal Data

Percy was born in Great Bridge, but the family moved to Gloucester when he was about 2 years old.

After Percy's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £18/11/3d (18 pounds, 11 shillings and 3 pence); this was paid to his father and sole legatee, Joshua F., in March 1919. His War Gratuity was £17/10/0d (17 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his father in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Percy had enlisted in approximately November 1916.

Action resulting in his death

The German Spring Offensive in March 1918 caused the 12th Gloucesters to be recalled from their short stay in Italy. As part of the 5th Division they were then involved in the Battle of the Lys, particularly the defence of Hazebrouck. From July 12th to 17th 1918 the 12th Gloucesters were in the front line in the Nieppe Forest, north-west of Merville. They were near the ‘Via Roma’, one of the roads bisecting the forest, named in honour of their Italian sojourn.

The situation was generally quiet until the 16th July when the 12th Gloucesters sent out patrols to capture 2 enemy posts. The patrols were seen and 4 men were killed during the German retaliation. The War Diary for the 17th July says: “..during the morning enemy shelled our front line with High Explosive and Shrapnel. Casualties: 5 killed.”

One of the 5 men killed was Corporal Percy Bartlett; Percy is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.