In 1901 the family lived at Newton on the Hill where Edward (Percy's father) was a cattleman on a farm. In 1911 Percy was living with his parents and siblings, with his uncle William Fowler at 5 Newton on the Hill and his occupation was given as a draper’s improver. Percy enlisted into the RAMC with his brother Dick in early 1915. Both of them were posted to 129th Field Ambulance. They both entered the war in France on 2nd December 1915. On 30th July 1917, the Field Ambulance moved up to the canal bank in the Ypres Salient ready to provide medical support for the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. The offensive began early the following morning and the Field Ambulance’s war diary describes the very difficult conditions caused by heavy rain making carrying casualties most arduous and necessitating eight men to carry one stretcher. Percy’s own diary describes an incident, probably on 1st August, when he and his brother Dick were carrying a casualty on a stretcher after gas shells had landed in the area. Percy records that their gas masks were dislodged when they fell over a fallen tree and were trying to ensure that the patient was not dropped. Both of them were exposed to gas and had to stay at the dressing station when they eventually reached it while they recovered. When the brothers returned to England Percy continued to be affected by the gassing and was admitted to the military hospital at Westbridgeford near Nottingham. He appeared to be making a good recovery but he contracted influenza in the very serious epidemic that was sweeping the country at the time. This very severe strain of influenza, known as Spanish ‘Flu, frequently proved fatal and so it was with Percy whose chest had already been weakened by the inhalation of poisonous gas. Percy died in Westbridgeford Hospital, Nottingham. He was the son of Edward and Lizzie Micklewright of Crescent Cottage, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury. (Information kindly provided by Greg Miller)