Pte 15946 Percy James Coltart

This soldier was born James Percy Coltart on 16th April 1891 at 88 Belmont Road, Anfield, to Liverpool born soap manufacturers clerk, Augustus Frederick Coltart and his Liverpool born wife Catherine Ada (nee Higginson). They married on the 02nd October 1873 in Liverpool and had 10 Children (six boys and four girls). Their son Richard died (possibly stillborn) in 1887. James Percy was their tenth and final child

 

The April 1901 Census shows the family are now living at 79 Belmont Road. Percy J. is 9 years of age and living with his parents and seven siblings. His father, Augustus is 55 years of age, born in Liverpool in 1846 and is shown as a soap makers manager, whilst his mother, Catherine, is 47 years of age and born in Liverpool in 1854. His siblings, all born in Liverpool are recorded as: William F. a 26 year old clerk, Annie M. aged 25, Gertrude E. 23, Harry 19 and a ships store clerk, Thomas S. aged 16 a provisions apprentice, George G. 15 and Annie L. 12.   

 

On 01st November 1904 when aged 13, James Percy was baptised at St Margaret's Church, Anfield at the same time as his 15 year old elder sister Annie Louise. His father is recorded as a Gentleman. 

 

The 1911 Census shows the family are at a new address at 91 Hampstead Road, Liverpool. His father, Augustus, is now 68 years of age and retired, whilst his mother is recorded as Ada and is 57 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 37 years and record that they have had 10 children, nine of whom have survived. James Percy is recorded by his father on this census as Percy and who is now a 19 year old insurance clerk. His siblings declared at home are shown as; Gertrude E. 33, Beatrice A. 31 working in a wig works, Harry 29 and a book keeper, Sydney 27 is a cold storage clerk, George G. 25 is a shipping clerk and Annie L. is 22.  

On 02nd September 1914 at St Geroge's Hall in Liverpool, James Percy Coltart enlisted as Private 15946 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He stated his age to be 23 Years and 131 days. He was described as having brown hair and hazel eyes, height 5 foot 6 inches, weight 130 lbs, Chest 36 inches. He stated his religion as Church of England, and his next of kin as his mother Catherine.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. 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 arrived in France on 7^th November 1915, having trained for 1 year and 66 days in the UK.

Percy received a Gun Shot Wound to his right hip on 27th June 1916 and was transferred from hospital in Rouen, back to England on 01st July 1916. After 117 days recovery to 25 October 1916, he was transferred from the 17th King's to the 14th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment and on 26 October 1916 arrived in Salonica, Northern Greece, fighting on that front for the next 1 year 105 days of his life.

On Thursday 07th February 1918, aged 26, he was killed in action. He was initially buried and his grave was marked with a cross but was later reinterned to a new CWGC Military Cemetery at Doiran, Greece. 

His headstone bears the epitaph:

TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE

The cemetery (originally known as Colonial Hill Cemetery No.2) was formed at the end of 1916 as a cemetery for the Doiran front. The graves are almost entirely those of officers and men of the 22nd and 26th Divisions and largely reflect the fighting of April and May 1917 (the attacks on the Petit-Couronne), and 18-19 September 1918 (the attacks on Pip Ridge and the Grand-Couronne). In October and November 1918, after the final advance, a few burials took place from the 25th Casualty Clearing Station. After the Armistice, graves were brought into the cemetery from the battlefields and from by some small burial grounds, the most important of which was Strumnitza British Military Cemetery, north-west of Doiran, made by the 40th Casualty Clearing Station in October and November 1918. DOIRAN MILITARY CEMETERY now contains 1,338 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 449 of them unidentified. There are also one French and 45 Greek war graves. The DOIRAN MEMORIAL, which stands near the cemetery, serves the dual purpose of Battle Memorial of the British Salonika Force (for which a large sum of money was subscribed by the officers and men of that force), and place of commemoration for more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died in Macedonia and whose graves are not known. The memorial was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer with sculpture by Walter Gilbert.
 

His plaque stated his name as Percy James Coltart. His mother, Catherine and eldest brother William entered into several months of correspondence with the Army requesting a photograph of his headstone. 

 

His father died in December 1916, aged 74

His elder brothers survived the war:
 

Pte 195428 Harry Coltart enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps 

Pte 203297 Thomas Sidney Coltart enlisted into 18th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. 

 

The Soldiers Effects record is listed under the name John Percy Coltart and shows his arrears of Pay of £2:3s:2d was paid to his mother Catherine on 09th August 1918. His mother was also awarded a dependents pension of ten shillings a week from 27 August 1918 to her address at 30 Alton Rd,  Tuebrook, Liverpool.

 

James Percy is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance inside Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 8 Left 

 

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