Capt
Percy Malin Pridmore

Information about birth

Date of birth:
07/01/1886
Place of birth:
Coventry, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
Coventry, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
Profession:
Smallwares Manufacturer

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Captain
Enlistment date:
18/08/1914
Enlistment place:
Coventry, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 2/6th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
02/09/1917
Place of death:
Bank Farm, Belgium
Cause of death:
Died of wounds (D.O.W.)
Age:
31

Cemetery

Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery
Plot: VII
Row: G
Grave: 2

Distinctions and medals 4

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place

My story

Percy Malin Pridmore was the second oldest child, of Alexander Percy and Florence Louise Pridmore of Coventry, Warwickshire. After completing his studies at King's College, London, Percy - or Malin as he was commonly known - became a partner in the family business, Pridmore & Co. a Smallwares Manufacturer. In September 1914 he obtained a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1915 and to Captain in October 1916, a couple of months after he was awarded the Military Cross, for general good work during his command of a Trench Mortar Battery. By the time of the Battle of Passchendaele, Malin was serving with the 2/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, part of the 182nd (2nd Warwickshire) Brigade, of the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division.

The 2/6th Battalion arrived in Flanders at the end of July 1917. On the 1st of September they left for the frontline near Bank Farm, facing Hill 35, which the 2/5th Warwickshires had attempted to capture in vain earlier that day. Pridmore’s Battalion would launch two disastrous attacks on the ridge, one on the 3rd and one on the 5th of September. Hill 35 was a well defended German strongpoint, consisting of four gun pits connected by a trench, with concrete pill-boxes in the rear and flanked by the strongpoints Gallipoli and Iberian, covering the position from three directions. Hill 35 was only captured on 20 September 1917 after eight British attempts to storm it’s slopes.

On the 2nd and 3rd of September the 2/6th occupied positions between Somme and Pommern Castle, in anticipation of the attack. Battalion Headquarters were at Bank Farm. 31-year old Captain Pridmore was killed by a shell on 2 September 1917, while leading his Company in. Malin was buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Plot: VII Row: G, Grave: 2.

Files 1

Sources 4

Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Further reference
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/143049/pridmore,-percy-malin/
Sources used
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Sources used
War Diary Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 2/6th Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Further reference