Percival Blissett

War Service

Percy was 21 years old when he answered the call to fight for King and Country by enlisting in the 2nd/4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Training took place in various locations around England including Strensall, Beverley and Gateshead, becoming part of the 187th Brigade of the 62nd Division.
Percy’s battalion the 2nd/4th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry landed at Le Havre on the 15 January 1917.
On the 27 January the battalion arrived near to Authie. From here parties went up to the trenches in turn, whilst the rest of the battalion was employed building railways. Throughout 1917 the 2/4 Battalion was involved in a number of battles including the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Bullecourt and the Cambrai Operations. At the turn of the year they were involved in short spells working on the railway, tunnelling etc.
On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched their spring offensive on the north of the front lines. The night of the 22/23 March saw the 2nd/4th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry battalion billeted in the Communal College, Arras. The men would get little sleep as heavy shelling and air raids continued throughout the night. At 1:45pm on the 24 March orders were received for the battalion to move into the trenches in front of Ronville, the move was completed by 3:45pm. The next day the battalion received an urgent order to make a forced march through the night to Bucquoy, finally arriving at 3:30am. Congestion of transport and guns of a retreating army made the march more difficult. By 5:30am they had taken up defensive positions to try to hold-up the advancing German colossal forces. Shelling and sniping took place for the next two days. At 9:00am on the 27 March large masses of enemy troops were observed deploying for an attack. Heavy fighting in the trenches took place during the day, both sides suffering heavy losses, with estimated battalion losses over 160 killed.
Amongst those recorded missing were Captain A. E. Pilley and 2nd Lieutenant D.O.C. Maggs. Records of prisoners of war for officers indicate that they were taken prisoner on 27 March, conceivably, it was at this time Percy was also taken prisoner. Repatriation of the officers took place during December 1918. Private Blissett died on 7 September 1918, aged 25 years, in a prisoner of war camp in an area of Germany, which later became Poland after the war.
Private Percival Blissett is remembered with honour in Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland. After the First World War the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died in Poland as prisoners of war were gathered together and buried in Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery.

Family Life

Percival or Percy was born in Wilbarston near Market Harborough, Northamptonshire in 1893. Sometime before 1901 Percy moved to Altofts, living with his stepfather George Loomes and George’s wife Elizabeth (Percy’s mother) at 15, Brook Street, Altofts. After leaving school Percy worked underground at a local colliery and at the age of 17 years he was working as a trammer. His task would have been to push or pull tubs of coal from the coalface to an assembly for onward transport towards the mineshaft by pit ponies or mechanical rope haulage.
Possibly it was during Percy’s training for war service that he met Ada Robinson. The marriage of Percival Blissett and Ada Robinson is recorded in the Guisborough registration district during the first quarter of 1917. They would only have a few days together. A time of happiness tinged with apprehension and sadness, knowing that Percy’s departure to France was imminent.
Percy’s wife Ada was residing at 29, Park Street, Skelton-in-Cleveland at the time of his death. It is hard to comprehend the turmoil of emotions Ada would have endured in her short time with Percy. Elation of marriage, sadness of parting, worry whilst Percy was at the front, anxiety when reported missing, relief when notified he was a POW and sorrow when she received news of the death of Percy, just a few weeks before the armistice on 11 November 1918.

Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery