Holton Percival Howard 1893

Percival howard Holton

1893-1977

Father Nm: Albert Holton born 2 Oct 1873  Northampton died 4 Jun 1953 Northampton

Mother Nm: Ada Mary Blincow [886] b 31.12.1870 c 23.4.1880 Long Buckby a twin died 11.10.1959 Long Buckby   Oldest Known Ancestor; John Blinco 1660 Whilton

Marriage Dt: 3 Sep 1921,  Northampton

K comments: Brother Reginald Clifford Holton served with the 2nd Northants Regiment and died while a POW at Stendal in 1918

Spouse comments: Maud Spencer born 24 NOV 1894 Northampton died  9 JUN 1982 in Worcester.

Children: Joan Holton 1922–, Marjorie Holton 1924–2002

Birth

27 March 1893 Northampton

1901 Census

1. Albert Holton Head Married Male 27 1874 Shoe Manufacturers Clerk
2. Ada M Holton Wife Married Female 30 1871 – Long Buckby
3. Percival H Holton Son – Male 8 1893 – Northamptonshire
4. Reginald C Holton Son – Male 5 1896 – Northamptonshire
5. Lily M Holton Daughter – Female 0 1901 – Northamptonshire

1911 Census

1. Albert Holton Head Married Male 37 1874 Shoe Manufacturers Clerk
2. Ada M Holton Wife Married Female 40 1871 – Long Buckby
3. Percival H Holton Son – Male 8 1893 Plumbers Mate- Northamptonshire
4. Reginald C Holton Son – Male 15 1896 Shoe Manufacturers Clerk – Northamptonshire
5. Lily M Holton Daughter – Female 11 1901 – Northamptonshire
6. Sidney Holton Son- Male-6 1906 Northampton

 

WW1

Holton Percival Howard, Private, 138, 370129, 53rd Division Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps

1915

• 5 June.  Enlisted presumably in the Royal Army Medical Corps (no other Regiments identified) Given the rather low number 138 this was presumably changed in 1916 with a six-digit numbering. Percival was a volunteer a territorial soldier.
• We do not have Percival’s service record but do know from his medal card that he entered Gallipoli Peninsular theatre of war on 2 August 1915 after training for a role in the 1st,2nd or 3rd Field Ambulance units of the 53rd Welsh Division.  Stretcher Bearer being one the common activities for Privates

The division sailed from Devonport, bound for Gallipoli via Imbros (now Gökçeada) on 19 July 1915

• Landed at Suvla Bay on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 9 August 1915. The RAMC units may have not got onto the beach at Suvla until the 12th as the opposition to the landing was fierce. Diary of an RAMC Lt – Suvla Bay by Charlie Nyhan covers the trip out and the beach experience in August before he was evacuated with dysentry.

  

 

The 53rd Division was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915 and moved to Egypt. The evacuation was forced by a combination of combat, disease and harsh weather which saw the division reduced to just 162 officers and 2,428 men, approximately 15% of full strength.

Note: Percival was likely was struck down with Malaria in this period and in this location. The mosquito in the Dardenelles responsible for thousands of men being sick for years. The problem was eventually prevented by the mandatory taking of Quine tablets when in the infected areas.

 

1916

The 53rd Division took part in the Battle of Romani in August 1916. Presumably in this battle and later ones in North Africa, Percival performed duties with the 53rd Division Field Ambulance as a stretcher-bearer probably.

1917

On 26 March 1917, the 53rd (Welsh) Division bore the brunt of the First Battle of Gaza where the three brigades, along with the 161st (Essex) Brigade of the 54th (East Anglian) Division, had to advance across the exposed ground, withstanding shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire, to capture the Turkish fortifications. Despite gaining the advantage towards the end of the day, the British commander, Lieutenant-General Philip Chetwode called off the attack so that the division’s casualties, were suffered in vain.

•  the Battle of El Buggar Ridge in October 1917

1918

Note: In 1916 tin hats were introduced however, not widely worn until towards the end of the war as these RAMC bearers in Egypt in 1917 attest.

• the 53rd Bn last major combat was the Action of Tell ‘Asur in March 1918

1919

• 6 March. Percival is discharged  and is honourably awarded a Silver War Badge suffering from Malaria and unfit to serve any longer

MEDALS

SOURCES

1. Ancestry  and BFA database
2. Lyn Kightley, Ancestry member and wife of Lily Holton’s grandson provided photographs and family info.
3. Long Long Road website
4. The Great War Forum website
5. 53rd Welsh Division Wikipedia

After the War

1921 Marriage

3 Sep 1921, at Baptist Chapel, Northampton

1939 Census

15 Henwick Av, Worcester. A Master Plumber.

Household Members
Percival H Halton 46
Maud Halton 45
A record undisclosed likely because of age
Marjorie Hoelter 15

Death 1977

26 JUL 1977   Worcester.

GALLERY

Two photographs of  sister Lily May Holton