Name
Percy Worboys
11 June 1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/11/1914
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7144
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bengeo memorials, Not on the Ashwell memorials Luton Town Memorial, Beds
Pre War
Percy Worboys was born on 11 June 1879 in Kiln Lane, Ashwell, the son of Charles Edward and Rachel Worboys. He was one of ten children.
On the 1881 Census the family were living in Hitchin Road, Letchworth, his father was an agricultural labourer. By 1891 they had moved to Cold Harbour, Harpenden, and his father was then a general labourer. They remained in Harpenden in 1901 and were then living at Klondyke Cottages, Luton Road at which time 21 year old Percy was working as a cattleman on a farm. In 1911 Percy was still living with his parents and they were residing at 3 Newcombe Street, Harpenden. His father was then a jobbing gardener and Percy was a shunter on the railway.
Percy married Ada Ellen Woodward on 2 November 1912 in St Matthews Church, Luton, Beds. They had two children, Percy Charles James born February 1913 and Ellen Muriel born December 1914, after her father's death. They lived at 51 Cobden Street, Luton, Beds.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. His regimental number of 7144 suggests Percy had previously been a serving soldier and was a reservist who was recalled at the outbreak of war. He served in France from 30 August 1914 with the 1st Battalion and was probably one of a draft of 90 men who joined the battalion in the field on 4 September. He would have fought in the battles of the Marne and the Aisne in September followed by the Battle of La Bassee near Givenchy in October.
The following month they were involved in the First Battle of Ypres. On 7 November they were attacked by German forces who broke through the British line, adjacent to the Bedfordshire Regiment. They were driven back following a counter attack during the day but the battalion suffered 147 casualties, one of whom was Percy.
It took some 5 months for the MOD to advise his wife of his death. Ada contacted them on 5 different occasions between November 1914 and March 1915 and each time received a letter in response. These varied from 'we believe he is alive and well', to 'he is missing in action' to the final letter in March 1915 finally advising her of her husband’s death back on 7 November 1914. Ada had been trying to contact Percy to advise him of the birth of their daughter, who sadly he never would have had an opportunity to meet, and by the accounts his granddaughter, Helen, it would appear he died not knowing of her birth. She also has the original letters from the MOD to her great grandmother which she treasures.
Percy has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His widow Ada received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £6 8s 7d. She also received a pension of 18s 6d for herself and her two children, later increased to £1 1s 0d. She remarried in 1920 to Ernest Brewer.
According to UK Soldiers Who Died in the Great War, Percy Worboys was born in Bengeo, and hence is included on that list, but no records connecting him to Bengeo have been found. The Percy Worboys of Ashwell, is a more likely candidate. If anyone knows more please get in touch.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Terry & Glenis Collins, Helen McLean
