Pte 26192 Percy James Williamson

• Age: 28
• From: Weaverham Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 26th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

Percy James was born in Weaverham, Cheshire on 13th June 1889 the son of William Williamson and his wife Florence (nee Clarkson). His parents married in 1884 in Runcorn, and had ten children. Percy had an older brother William, and younger siblings Dorothy (died at age 2), Victor, Elsie (died at age 6), Alan, Clifford, Nancy, Charles (died at age 2), and Florence.

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Northwich Road, Weaverham. Percy is one year old and is living with his parents and elder brother. His father, William, is a Colliery proprietors book keeper, born in Runcorn in 1860, whilst his mother, Florence, was born at Watton in 1864. His brother William was born in 1888 at Weaverham.   

Percy began his education when he was admitted to Weaverham School on 18th May 1896. 

By 1901 the family are living at "Back of the Town", Weaverham. Percy is now 11 and living with his parents and 5 siblings. His elder brother William is now 13 and 4 additional siblings have been born all at Weaverham; Victor C b.1893, Alan b.1896, Clifford b. 1898 and Nancy b. 1901. There is also a domestic servant recorded in the household. 

In 1911 he is living as a boarder in London, employed as a Clerk.  

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the  17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 26192. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Percy enlisted in about May or June 1915.

On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

He was admitted to 98 Field Ambulance 25th January 1916 and rejoined the Battalion three days later on 28th January 1916.

The circumstances of his wounds were also reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 14th February 1916:

"Private Percy Williamson, a member of a well-known local family, is the first Runcorn member of the Liverpool Comrades Battalion to be wounded. He is suffering from a damaged foot. A German sniper made a mark of his bayonet, exposed above the trench. The aim was true and the bullet was deflected by the bayonet and entered Private Williamson foot. He is recovering rapidly in a base hospital". 

He was later admitted to 140 Field Ambulance suffering from shell shock on 12th October 1916, the date of the Pals attack at Le Transloy.

Percy was killed in action on 26th March 1918, aged 28 whilst serving with ‘D’ Company.

The Battalion diary for 26^th March 1918 gives an insight into the events of the day

MOYENCOURT – ROIGLISE – PLESSIER – PLESSIER FOLIES

During the morning the Battalion moved to FOLIES and took up positions west of the village. Later on 2 Companies under Capt. RIGBY-JONES were ordered to man some trenches E. of ROUVROY, the remaining Company  occupying trenches N.E. of FOLIES.

Battn. H.Q. in dug outs just west of the village.

Percy's body was not recovered from the battlefield and his name is recorded on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.