Pte 21941 Percy Braham

• Age: 17
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

21941 Private Percy BRAHAM, 20^th Battalion, KLR.

Percy enlisted on 09^th November 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion as Private 21941 when he gave his age as 18 years 60 days - almost certainly telling lies as all other records show he would have been only 16 years old - a clerk by trade and his next of kin as his father of 54 Kenmare Road, Liverpool. A report in the Liverpool Evening Express in July 1916 said that Percy had been employed with the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company prior to his enlistment. He was described as being 5'3" tall, weighed 119lbs, 34" chest, with a fresh complexion and brown hair and eyes. He stated, clearly incorrectly that his religion was Church of England, this was subsequently corrected to show that Percy was of the Jewish faith.  

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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. 

Percy served in France from 07^th November 1915. He was admitted to 49th Field Ambulance on 25th December 1915 with an ICT heel problem (Inflammation of the Connective Tissue), rejoining his unit the next day. He was admitted to 98th Field Ambulance on 27th February 1916 suffering from influenza, then on the 01^st March 1916 proceeded to 3 A.F.(3^rd Australian), with a reoccurrence of the ICT, being discharged to duty on 06th March 1916. 

He was killed in action on the 01/07/1916 during the attack at Montauban.

20^th Battalion Dairy

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file, 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.         

His death was reported in the Liverpool  Echo on 12th/13th July 1916 and the Evening Express on 14th July 1916.

ANOTHER PAL 

Official news has been received of the death in action of Private Percy Braham, of the Liverpool "Pals." He was the second son of Mr.and Mrs.S.Braham, of 31, Madelaine-street, and 12 Park-road, Liverpool. (Liverpool Echo 12/7/16)

Drummer Percy Braham of the Pals, formerly in the employ of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Co., who was killed on July 2nd. His parents reside at 31 Madelaine-street, Prince's Park. (Liverpool Evening Express 14/7/16).             

Percy's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Soldiers Effects to father Sampson, Pension to mother Annie. 

Percy earned his three medals