Southam in WW1

Centenary Archive

Honouring those who died and all who served

Private P. P. Flower (51164)

Private Percy Preston Flower (born 1888) was the son of John (from Long Itchington) and Elizabeth (from Wantage) and brother of Harry (born 1887) who also went to war. Both men before the war were grocer’s assistants and in 1911 they were living with their parents and younger brother Charles (born 1891) in Southam. For more details of the family background see Harry Flower.

Percy joined 1/6^th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, in October 1916. In February 1918 they were stationed at Devonshire Camp, near Reninghelst, providing working parties repairing trenches at Westhoek Ridge. The War Diaries show that each day nine officers and about 320 other ranks paraded at 5.30am for work details. A three hour journey by bus and train and then a route march took them to the trenches.

Private Flower was one of a working party when he was killed on February 12^th 1918. He is buried at the Menin Road, South Military Cemetery, Ypres.