Name
Percy Ernest Allan Skipper
17/07/1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/10/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18490
Royal Berkshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAZINGARBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
57
France
Headstone Inscription
"EVER REMEMBERED"
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt memorials, Great Western Railway Roll of Honour WW 1 Memorial
Pre War
Percy Ernest Allen Skipper was born in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, on 17th April 1893, son of John Herbert Skipper a, Congregational Church Minister and Cemetery Chaplain and Catherine Maud Skipper (nee Portwood). One of eleven children although one died in infancy.
1901 Census record Percy aged 7, living with his parents, five sisters and three brothers at, 129 High Road, Willesden, Middx.
1911 Census records Percy aged 17, an Engineering Apprentice, living with his parents, five sisters and two brothers at 94 Villiers Road, Willesden Green, Middx. His widowed Grandmother Harriet Portwood and his Cousin Henry Nimms are living with the family.
In April 1912, Percy was employed by the Great Western Railway (GWR) as a Locomotive Cleaner from there he progressed to a Locomotive Fireman the following year, 1913, at Old Oak Common, Train Depot. His GWR employment record states he joined the Colours in June 1915.
Percy married Rose Bowen the daughter of John James and Alice Bowen in the early part of 1913, in Cricklewood, Lon/Middx. They went on to have a son John Ernest Skipper.
Wartime Service
Percy enlisted at Marylebone, Lon/Middx, in June 1915, posted to Princes Charlotte of Wales’s Own (Royal Berkshire Regiment) with the service number 18490.
On Completion of his training Percy went to France. “The 8th Battalion were at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, when Mobilized for war, landing at Le Havre, France on 8th August 1915” Percy was Killed in Action on 13th October 1915, aged 22. He is buried in the Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery in France. Grave Ref: 57.
Additional Information
Rose was awarded a widow’s pension of 15/- a week from 8th March 1916, his effects of £2-11s-8d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
His Headstone inscription “EVER REMEMBERED” was requested by Mrs. R. Bussell, 11 Chaple Road, Willesden Green, London, NW. His widow.
Rose remarried in 1918 to William O. Bussell. Rose, son John and William emigrated to Canada in 1919.
SDITGW give his place of birth as Cheshunt, Herts, we believe this is incorrect and should be Chesham, Bucks.
No Connection to Cheshunt, Herts, was found.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
