CARTER Percy Whittington

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

Percy Carter was one of nine children. Nicknamed ‘Titch’, he was a chorister at St Leonard’s Church at Ribbesford and the church was often packed to hear him sing, and he also played the mouth organ.

Percy was a member of a musical family. His mother played the piano by ear. His father was also nicknamed ‘Titch’, and worked at the tannery on Severnside South. He was a great fisherman, and knew and loved the river.

A batman to one of the company’s officers, who wrote a poem to his mother, saying what a ‘good fellow’ he was. Great friends with Lance Corporal George Insull (22557) of the same unit. Their officer describes them as ‘brothers’. Lance Corporal Insull is recorded as dying on the same day.

The company was attached to 144th Brigade, part of the 48 (1/1st) South Midland Division. On the 16th July 1916, the brigade was involved in the final capture of the remains of Ovillers along with 74th Brigade and the 1st/5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment of 143rd Brigade. On the 17th July 144th Brigade took 300 yards of the original German front line north of Ovillers. On the 18th July they moved up to communication trenches north of Ovillers

Percy was said to have been ‘blown up at a gun’ together with Lance Corporal Insull at ‘Crucifix Corner’, a road junction with roads leading north towards Thiepval, east to Ovillers, south east to La Boiselle, and south and west towards Albert.

Percy Carter has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Thiepval Memorial.