Name
Percy Selwin Brunt
25 November 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
211076
Royal Field Artillery
77th Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KARACHI 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL
Pakistan
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials
Pre War
Percy Selwin Brunt was born on 25 November 1882 in St Pancras, the son of William and Annie Brunt. On the 1891 Census the family were living at 25 Pratt Street, St Pancras where his father was a Porter at a College. He attended Camden Street School and later Great College Street school in Westminster from 22 August 1892.
On 5 February 1900 he was employed by the Midland Railway as a Lamp Porter at Kentish Town Station, but on 25 November the same year he signed on for 12 years in the Royal Navy. He served on many ships during that time, including the Hannibal, Charybdis, Ariadne, Leander, Prince George, Prince of Wales and Blenheim. On the 1911 Census he was listed as an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Whippingham, Isle of Wight.
His parents remained at 25 Pratt Street, Camden on the 1901 and 1911 Censuses but his father died later in 1911.
On leaving the Royal Navy he found employment as an Assistant Postman in December 1912 in NW London and later as a Porter in 1913.
He married Lilian Mary Willis on 26 July 1915 at St Thomas's Church, Camden at which time he was living at 25 Pratt Street and Lilian was living next door at no. 27. Percy was then working as a Portal Servant.
At the time of enlistment, they lived at 23 Bury Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts and his widow later moved to 23 King Street, Camden Town. London.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in St Pancras and served with the 77th Battery, Royal Field Artillery in India during the war.
He died on 3 September 1918 at Upper Topa, India, of double pneumonia contracted while on active service. He was initially buried in Upper Topa New Cemetery, India but it appears the grave may now be lost and he is now named on the Karachi 1914-1918 War memorial, Pakistan.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £10 12s 10s. She also received a pension of 18s 8d a week. (N.B. His Memorial Plaque was sold at auction in January 2021)
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
