Pte Percy Thomas Newell Southgate

Percy was a butcher, and was originally from Bury St Edmunds. After marrying, he and his wife moved to Brentwood, where his brother in law worked for the army.

Percy does not seem to have been called up to fight, but instead originally volunteered as part of the Expeditionary Force Canteens, a partly volunteer group serving food and drink to soldiers in France. Ultimately, though, Percy signed up to fight and attested at St. Omer, France.

He joined the 15th Warwickshire Regiment, and would have been involved in several skirmishes during spring 1918. On 28th June 1918 they made a successful attack on enemy trenches, and it may have been during this assault that Percy was wounded - he is recorded as dying of wounds the following day. He is buried at Aire Communal Cemetery in France.