Percival Charles Eaton Hulatt

Name

Percival Charles Eaton Hulatt
1881

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

15/06/1918
36

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Lance Corporal
34032
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1/7th Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

MAGNABOSCHI BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot 1. Row C. Grave 1.
Italy

Headstone Inscription

THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE WHOSE MIND IS STAYED IN THEE

UK & Other Memorials

Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin

Pre War

Percival was born in 1881 in Clapham, Bedfordshire, and his parents were Frederick William and Anne Hulatt.


In 1891 the family were living at Little Thurlow Street, Bedford. Present were both parents: Frederick W (37) and Ann (33), with Frederick working as a postman. Their children were: Gertrude Ann (11), Percival Charles Eaton (9), Ermintrude F (7), Albert Edward (4) and Annie E (2). Also present was Eliza Jarvis (44) a sister.


In 1901, although still in Bedford, they had moved to 26 York Street, Bedford. Both parents were present and Frederick was still a postman. Of the children Gertrude was missing, Percival, was 19, and working as a bricklayer, and new siblings were Louis F (7) and Hilda M (3).


Percival married Harriet Bland (b 21/3/1878) in 1908 and they had their first child, Annie Harriet in 1910 (b 11/5/1910).


In 1911 Percival, Harriet and Annie were living at 28 Dacre Rd, Hitchin. The census recorded they had been married for 3 years with 1 child. Also present were two boarders, Richard Christman Snelling (23) and George Foster (29).  Percival was working as a bricklayer.


Another child, Freda May, was born on 24 March 1913.


Before the war he was employed as a bricklayer by Frank Newton.


Officially he was recorded as born in Clapham, Surrey and enlisting in Hitchin, Herts.

Wartime Service

He originally joined the 2/4th, Bn. East Kent Regiment as Private 202661.


His entry in the National Roll of the Great War suggested that he enlisted in 1915 and after training went to France in September 1916. While overseas he was transferred to the royal Warwickshire regiment and took part in many important operations until December 1917, when he proceeded to Italy. During his service there he did much valuable work on the Piave front until June 15th, 1918, when he was killed in action by a sniper during the great Austrian attack at that time.


An officer wrote to his family: “it was during it was during the great Austrian attack. The great Austrian attack. We had held the enemy and were beginning to advance when your husband was shot by a sniper and died shortly afterwards. He had behaved with distinguished bravery all day. We had held he was one of the best men I had, and I could trust him in anything.”


He was buried in Plot I, Row C, Grave l in the British War Cemetery in Magna Boschi in Italy.

Additional Information

His widow ordered his headstone inscription while living at 28, Dacre Road, Hitchin, Herts., in reads: “THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE WHOSE MIND IS STAYED IN THEE”.


After his death £12 11s 11d was authorised to go to his widow on 17 October 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £5 10s was authorised to be paid to her, on 1 December 1919.


His pension cards record Harriet, his widow, as his dependant, living at 28 Dacre Road, Hitchin. It also lists two children, Annie Harriet (b 11/5/1910) and Freda May (b 24/3/1913). She was awarded a grant of £7 paid 10 July 1918 and then a pension of 25s 5d a week from 6 January 1919, however this was updated to 34s 4d.


His widow place at least one ‘In Memoriam’ notice in the local paper. It read: “In loving memory of my dear husband, Lance Corporal Percival Hulett, killed in action in Italy, June 15, 1918.

How hard it is to part with those
We hold on earth so dear;
The heart no greater trial knows,
No sorrow more severe.

His Wife and “Girlies”.

Acknowledgments

Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild