Pte 51651 Percy Mann

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Warlencourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: II.B.29

Percy Mann was born on the 08th August 1887 in Liverpool and was the son of David Mann and his wife Elizabeth (nee Stephenson). He was baptised at Emmanuel, Everton on October 30th in the same year where his parents address is recorded as 13 Denton Grove, Rocky Lane. David’s occupation is given as tobacconist, he had been born in Whitehaven, Cumberland in 1856 and Elizabeth was born in Liverpool in 1854. The couple were married on Boxing Day 1881 at St. Mary The Virgin, West Derby, David giving his residence as St Peters, Nottingham. 

The 1891 census shows David and Elizabeth still at the same address, but now with four children – David junior aged 8, William 2, Percy 3 and 11 month old Ethel. David was working as a tobacco manufacturers foreman.

The family are at the same address at the time of the 1901 census.

Elizabeth is looking after six children now with Eleanor being born in 1893 and Mabel in 1894. Percy’s father is missing from the family in the 1901 and 1911 census, but when he died in 1923 his probate record states he is a ships steward so it has to be presumed he is away at sea.

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at the same address.
Elizabeth aged 55 has been married for 29 years and had 8 children of which two died, her remaining six children are all living at home with her. David junior aged 28, is working as a mechanic, Percy aged 23,  is a clerk for a provisions merchant, William Simpson aged 22, is also a clerk for a timber merchant, Ethel aged 20, is a dressmaker, Eleanor Elizabeth aged 18, is a student and Mabel Georgina aged 16, is at home. 

Percy enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 51651 when he was killed in action on the 12th October 1916 aged 29 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

17th Bn War Diary: Battle of Transloy Ridge –

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday. Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16 - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak. 2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced. Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful. Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed, 5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds:

“As the whistle blew, the 17th Battalion left its trenches to move forward. […] As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire. […] Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire. As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them. The 17th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets. Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will. It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners. There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.”

Percy now rests at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH”

Warlencourt Cemetery is entirely a concentration cemetery, begun late in 1919 when graves were brought in from small cemeteries and the battlefields of Warlencourt and Le Sars.  The Graves Registration form shows graves from “Le Sars 6/1, 6/2, Hexham Road, Seven Elms”.

Graves were brought in from the original cemeteries at Hexham Road (Le Sars), and Seven Elms (Flers), as well as over 3,000 British graves due to the fighting which took place around the Butte de Warlencourt from the autumn of 1916 to the spring of 1917, and again in the German advance and retreat of 1918.   The cemetery now contains 3,505 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War, 1,823 of which are unidentified.

Originally posted as Missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on 16th Nov 1916. 

King’s (Liverpool Regt.) - Mann, 51651, P.; 

Percy’s parents took out a notice in the Liverpool Daily Post on 26th April 1917: 

Mann – October 12, 1916, killed in action, previously reported missing, aged 29 years, Rifleman Percy Mann (K.L.R.), the dearly beloved second son of David and Elizabeth Mann, 13 Denton Grove, Anfield. 

Liverpool Daily Post on 12th Oct 1917. 

MANN - In loving memory of Rifleman P. MANN (K.L.R.), killed in action October 12, 1916. (Ever fondly remembered by Alice and Ray.) 

He is also remembered on the Memorial in St Margaret’s C. of E. Church, Anfield.

Soldier Effects and Pension to parents David and Elizabeth. 

Percy’s mother died aged 64 in 1918 and was buried on the 21^st March at West Derby Cemetery. 

His father died aged 66 on the 17^th Feb 1923. 

Probate 1923:- 

MANN David of 13 Denton Grove Anfield Liverpool ships Steward died 17th February 1923 Administration Liverpool 10 April to William Simpson Mann salesman. Effects £142 5s. 

 Both of Percy’s brothers served in the RAF during the war.

We currently have no further information on Percy Mann, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.