PERCY WILLIAM STEWARD
Born: 7th December 1893, Bramford, Suffolk.
Baptised: 25th February 1894, Bramford.
Died: 13th November 1916; age 23; KiA.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 16th January 1915 – France.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 8469
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Pier & Face 1C & 2A.
Somme,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of William & Hannah Steward, of 142, Handford Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 The Street, Bramford, Suffolk.
Percy was 7 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
William, 32, a Labourer at Chemical Manure Works, born Bramford, Suffolk.
Hannah Steward (nee Davey), 32, born Grundisburgh, Suffolk.
Anna Mabel Steward, 5, born Bramford.
David Henry Steward, 3, born Bramford.
Arthur George Steward, 2 months, born Bramford.
1911 Chantry Row, Upper Street, Sproughton, Suffolk.
Percy was 17 years old, a Farm Labourer. He was living with his parents & siblings.
William, 41, a Labourer – Factory.
Hannah, 41.
Anna, 15.
David, 13.
Arthur, 10.
William Harry Steward, 8, born Suffolk.
Hilda Winifred Steward, 3, born Suffolk.
Soldiers’ Effects to William Steward – father.
Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion:
The Battle of Ancre in the Serre sector was the last of the 1916 Battles of the Somme for the 2nd Battalion. The weather had been very poor with flooded trenches, many communication trenches being abandoned. The Battalion was sent into the line on the 6th November for an attack, but was later cancelled through more bad weather and rescheduled for the 10th, this too was canceled. On the night of the 12th the Battalion moved out onto open positions, moving off at 05:00 hrs on the 13th. Moving in extremely muddy conditions making slow progress through “no mans land” taking the first wave 45 minutes to reach the German lines. The weather had given them good cover, but all officers on the first wave were casualties, despite this, the Suffolk’s reach the second line. Holding it the rest of the day the battalion was unable to move more men up through the mud and wire failing to reorganise. The battalion returned back to the line taking 272 casualties.
Leave a Reply