Lance Corporal Percy Herbert sellers

Percy Herbert, who was the fifth child of Catherine Ann Trimlett and John Joseph Sellers was born during 0ctober of 1882 in Clapham, Surrey. His parents had married during the third quarter of 1881 at Wandsworth. His father was employed as a builders’ timekeeper, who according to the 1891 Census, the Sellers family resided at 16 St Andrew’s Street in Clapham, Surrey.

According to the 1901 Census, Percy was 8 years old, residing with his parents and two his brother John and sister Edith at the family home at 16 St Andrews Street in Clapham, also living with the Sellars family was 79-year-old James Trimlett, his widowed grandfather.

By 1911, the Census reveals that Catherine and John had been married for 29 years, the couple had 6 children, but 2 children had died young. The Sellers family lived in 4 rooms at 25 Caithness Road in Mitcham, Surrey.

When war broke out, Percy had been employed as a clerk still living with his father in Caithness Road. Percy enlisted in the Royal Berkshire Regiment at the outbreak of war on the 5th of September 1914 at the age of 21 years and 11 months, in Mitcham. According to the front page of his service record, Percy was 5 feet and 5 inches tall, he weighed only 122lbs, his complexion was described as dark of good colour, he had brown eyes and dark hair. He had 3 scars on his back from boiling lead and a small scar on his forehead as well as an operation scar on his neck. Percy was posted to the East Surrey Regiment on 12th of September 1914.

The 1915, electoral register reveals that Percy continued to live in a furnished back room at 25 Caithness Road paying 10s per week to his father John. Percy served in France from the 5th 0f 0ctober 1915 until 21st of June 1916 before returning home to England.

Medical records reveal that Percy was admitted to hospital on the 20th of May 1916 for dental treatment and returned to duties 6 days later. Percy required further dental treatment on the 17th of June 1916. By the 18th of June 1916, Percy had been admitted and transferred to a hospital in Bologne following a gunshot wound to his left arm and then discharged 45 days later. Percy was granted a furlough leave on the 5th 0f August 1916 before returning to active service on the 14th of August 1916 staying with his father in Caithness Road in Mitcham.

Percy was awarded 7 days punishment for being absent on parade at 11.30am on the 13th of 0ctober 1916.

Percy returned to France on the 12th of November 1916 where he remained on active duty until 18th 0f December 1917 serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France. By the 12th of May 1917, Percy was promoted in rank to unpaid Lance Corporal.

Percy required further medical attention at the American Women’s War Hospital on the 14th of June 1917 when a perforating wound to his right calf became slightly infected and he was discharged on the 24th of July 1917. In July 1917, Percy married Maud Jane Kirkham at Croydon Registry 0ffice on the 28th of July 1917, the couple resided at 35 Fernlea Road in Mitcham after their marriage. Before her marriage to Percy, Maude had been employed as a chocolate maker and resided in Mitcham according to the 1911 Census.

Percy was re-admitted to hospital on the 6th of August 1917 for further treatment to his injury before being finally discharged on the 20th 0f November 1917. 0n the 22nd of 0ctober 1917, Percy attended a medical review board which considered him fit for active duty. Percy served in the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 until he injured and died from his wounds on the 8th 0f April 1918 at Etaples.

Percy left an estate of £10 3s 9d to Maud and his posthumous son Herbert, Maud was awarded a pension of 20s and 5d a week to care for her son after the death of her husband Percy.