Pte 50113 Percy Westoby

• Age: 19
• From: Shafton, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Percy Westoby was born in 1897 in Shafton, Barnsley, Yorkshire and was the son of John William and Rose Ellen Westoby (nee Miles), of 103, Hawthorne Avenue, Hull, who had married in 1894 (marriage registered in Hemsworth, Pontefract). Percy was employed as a cleaner for the North Eastern Railway for two and a half years in Hull prior to enlisting.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Poplar Terrace, Shafton, Yorkshire.

The father John aged 30, born 1871 occupation, railway goods guard who was born in Yorkshire. His wife Rose is aged 27, born 1874 no occupation and was born in Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire. They have two children both born in Shafton, Harry aged 4, born 1897 and Percy aged 3, born 1898.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 12 Crosby St, Cudworth, Barnsley.

The father John aged 40, occupation railway goods guard, born in Raywell, Hull, mother Rose is aged 37(married 16 years 8 children 5 still alive), children all born Shafton, Ivy aged 15, Harry aged 14 a brick yard hand, Percy aged 13 a colliery screen boy, Millie aged 9, and Colin aged 7.  

He originally enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 826 but had transferred and was serving with the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50113 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 19 during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

Passchendaele 31^st July 1917

17^th Battalion

He was killed in action on 31st July 1917 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.      

Percy has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials

North Eastern Railway Memorial at York (one of 2,236 employees killed in the Great War)

Kingston Upon  Hull Memorial.

Reported wounded in the Hull Daily Mail 14th Sept 1917

King's (Liverpool Regt.) - Westoby, 50113, P.;

Soldiers Effects to father John W., Pension to mother Rose Ellen, 103, Hawthorne Avenue, Hull.

Hull Daily Mail 31st July 1919

WESTOBY - In sacred and lasting memory of Percy, dearly loved son of John and Rose Westoby, 103 Hawthorn Avenue, who fell July 31st 1917, aged 19.

It's only those who have loved lost

Can understand war's bitter cost.

WESTOBY - In loving memory of our dear brother Percy, King's Liverpool Regiment, fell in action July 31st 1917.

In the old home sadly missed.

-  Ivy and Harry

The father John died aged 62 in 1933 in Sculcoates. His wife Rose, dob 15th Mar 1874, appears on the 1939 register with daughter Ivy at The Cottage, Haltemprice, Hull.

and she died aged 71 in 1945. 

Grateful thanks are extended to the National Railway Museum in York for permission to use the photograph of Percy.  

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