KING, Percy William

Helles Memorial, Gallipoli TurkeyCredit: CWGC

Rifleman
1st/8th Battalion Isle of Wight Rifles
Hampshire Regiment

Percy was born in Newport in 1897 to Harry John & Rose (nee MUSSELL) of 1 Woodacott Terrace, Barton Road, Newport. In 1901 the family were living at 20 Fairlee Cottages, Fairlee Road in Newport.

Percy served with the 8th Bn. known as the Isle of Wight Rifles, & sent to fight at Gallipoli. 900 Rifles landed at Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, on 10th Aug 1915.

On the 12th Aug, together with other members of the 163rd Brigade, the Rifles were ordered to advance & occupy a ridge of hills in front of them, & in doing so, cut off the Turkish armies in the area of Anzac beach & cape Helles, in order to dominate the Dardanelles straights.  During the first attack, 8 officers over 300 men of the Rifles were reported killed or missing.

Percy, aged 18, was one of those missing men, whose body was never found or identified. He is therefore commemorated by the Commission on the Helles Memorial to the Missing in Gallipoli Turkey with 20,961 of his comrades.

Percy is also remembered on the County & Newport Borough War Memorials.

CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Sons & Daughters Commemorated Far From Home

Those from the Newport & Carisbrooke area who are buried or commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission outside of the area, both in the UK and in other countries.

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The image is of the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery & Memorial in Belgium.