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Private Percy Botham served in the 1/1st Line of the East Riding Yeomanry during the war. He enlisted 19 June 1915. Along with his younger brother Harry, he was posted to Egypt where the 1st had been assigned in late 1915 to protect the Suez Canal from Turkish forces as well as undertake desert patrols. They left the UK on 27 March 1917 and were on board the liner SS Arcadian, when on 15 April 1917, in the Aegean Sea, she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. they were some of the 1058 men who were saved. In December 1917 the majority of the 1st were converted into infantry and sent to France but Percy became part of the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and remained in Egypt to the end of the war. He was discharged in late Apr 1919. He was awarded the War and Victory medals.
Percy was born in Woodmansey 9 April 1891, one of six children born to George Botham, born 1846 and a farm labourer in Beverley Parks, and to Agnes Annie nee Biglin, born 1861 in the Withernsea area. George died in 1893 and his mother had two further sons, Walter born 1896 and Harry born 1898. Agnes married Harry Clark in early 1906, but died the same year, Harry brought up the family living at 3 School Lane, Walkergate, Beverley. Harry Clark had a fish business where Percy worked as an assistant prior to the war.
Percy married Lilian Haines at St Mary’s 7 Jun 1915. They had twins in 1920, Albert and Rhoda, the latter died after birth. The family lived at 13 Priory Road and later 23 Wood Lane. Percy is described as a fish merchant in the 1939 Register and is living in Hornsea. He died at the Cottage Hospital, Hornsea 10 Jun 1965, Lilian died in Sheffield in 1984.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |