Name
Percy Doggett
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/04/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13622
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. F. 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE FELL ASLEEP IN CHRIST HIS LORD
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary Magdalene Church Plaque, Flaunden, St Mary Magdalene Church Scroll, Flaunden
Pre War
Percy Doggett was born in Flaunden, Herts in 1893, the son of Daniel Doggett and Sarah (nee Waggett). On the 1901 Census the family of parents, sons John Daniel, Percy, Ralph Norman and sister Ruth Mary were living at Flaunden where his father was a Baker. They had moved to New House, Sarratt, Rickmansworth, Herts by the 1911 Census and Percy was working as a Journeyman Baker.
He was a member of Flaunden Baptist Church and was working for the International Stores at Hemel Hempstead prior to enlistment.
Wartime Service
Percy enlisted at Watford joining the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 13622, probably in Aug/Sep 1914, initially being posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion for training at Landguard, near Felixstowe.
He served in France from 1 Apr 1915, being posted to the 1st Battalion at Ypres. The Battalion were engaged in the defence of Hill 60. In 1916 the Battalion moved to the Somme area and took part in the attacks at High Wood 20th to 25th Jul, at Longueval 27th to 30th Jul, the Battle of Guillemont (specifically the capture of Falfemont Farm 3rd to 6th Sep) and the Battle of Morval on 25th Sep. In 1917 the Battalion were engage in the Battles of Arras and Scarpe in spring 1917 before moving back to Ypres in Autumn 1917 for the Battle of Paschendale (Broodseinde and Poelcapelle).
On the 11 Dec 1917 the Battalion was sent to the Italian Front following the losses at the Battle of Caporetto. In Apr 1918 returned to the Western Front taking part in the Battle of the Lys. On the night of 25 Apr there was a small operation mounted where although the Objective was attained I other Rank was killed. This was most likely to have been Percy as his death may have been reported the next day. During his service Percy is reported to have been wounded twice and had suffered from trench fever.
Percy was reported killed in action on 26 Apr 1918, aged 24 and is buried at Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Percy was killed in action on 26 April 1918, aged 24 and is buried at Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £17 and pay owing of £13 9s 11d. Pension cards exist but given no indication as to the amount of pension payable.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage,org,uk, www.buckinghamshireremembers.org.uk, www.greatwarforum.org.
