Pte
Percy Carhart
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 24/02/1898 |
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Place of birth: St. Kew, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Gardener |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 36117 |
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Enlistment place: Truro, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Polderhoek, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 81 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Percy was born in February 1898 in St Kew, Cornwall. He was the third child of Emma and James Carhart. Percy worked as a gardener till he enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, part of the 95th Brigade, of the 5th Division.
In September 1917 the 5th Division moved from France to join the great offensive in Flanders. Approximately one month later on the 28th of October the 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, moved into Brigade Reserve and occupied positions at the Tor Top Tunnels and at Stirling Castle. The 95th Brigade faced the German Strongpoint at the Polderhoek Château heights. From which the Germans overlooked the entire area and directed their artillery. Shelling in the Brigade’s area, consequently, was very heavy. The 30th was a miserable and wet day. “A” and “B” Companies of the Battalion carried up stores, rations and water to the East Surreys in the frontline at Polderhoek, while “C” and “D” Companies supplied the Devons. The German artillery was very active throughout the day.
Private Percy Carhart was killed in action on 30 October 1917. The 19-year old possibly fell, due to shellfire, while supplying the troops in the frontline at Polderhoek. Percy has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
In September 1917 the 5th Division moved from France to join the great offensive in Flanders. Approximately one month later on the 28th of October the 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, moved into Brigade Reserve and occupied positions at the Tor Top Tunnels and at Stirling Castle. The 95th Brigade faced the German Strongpoint at the Polderhoek Château heights. From which the Germans overlooked the entire area and directed their artillery. Shelling in the Brigade’s area, consequently, was very heavy. The 30th was a miserable and wet day. “A” and “B” Companies of the Battalion carried up stores, rations and water to the East Surreys in the frontline at Polderhoek, while “C” and “D” Companies supplied the Devons. The German artillery was very active throughout the day.
Private Percy Carhart was killed in action on 30 October 1917. The 19-year old possibly fell, due to shellfire, while supplying the troops in the frontline at Polderhoek. Percy has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 5
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"The history of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 1914-1919", Wyrall E., Londen, Methuen & Co., 1932, pg. 289-291. Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1628073/carhart,-percy/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 1st Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |