This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1. Today we especially commemorate Rifleman 43504 Tom Hinde Skinner of the King's Royal Rifle Corp who died on this day in 1966.
Maude, Percy
(1890-1916)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Corporal

Service Number 11374

Service Army

Battalion Medium Trench Mortar Battery

Regiment Australian Artillery Brigade

Killed in Action: 10th July 1916

Buried Cite Bon Jean Military Cemetery

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Engineer
Marital status: Single


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite immediately prewar or during the war

Biography

Family background

Percy Maude was born in about 1890 in Wortley, Leeds the son of Walter Maude, a publican, and his wife Alice, nee Dunning.

Before 1901 the family had moved and were living in Collingham. Percy was the youngest of four children. In 1911, just before the 1911 census, Percy's father Walter died and was buried on the 9th March 1911 in St.Oswald's churchyard. Walter's address at his death was given as 11 Byron Road, Heysham. We have not traced Percy's whereabout on census night of 1911, but his mother was staying with friends (the Walkers) in Langwith Park, Collingham.

In 1913, Percy's mother Alice died in Belmont Nursing Home, Leeds and she was buried in Collingham on the 31st January 1913. We believe that around this time Percy, who was an engineer, decided to emmigrate to Australia where his uncle, John Dunning, lived. We have found a record for a Percy Maude leaving Liverpool on the 2nd April 1914 on the White Star Liner Persic bound for Syndney, although the age given in the record for Percy was 36, ten years higher than his age.

Service record

Around one year later, on the 18th October 1915, Percy attested for military service at Victoria Barracks in New South Wales. He gave his next of kin as John Dunning, JP of Wanella, Sylvania, New South Wales. On the 15th January 1916, Percy embarked on a military transport ship, the RMS Osterley, in Sydney to sail back to Europe. By the 13th February 1916 Percy was taken on the strength of 1st Divisional Ammunition Column in Cairo. A few weeks later he was transferred to the 15th FAB and was posted to 57th Battery in Tel-el-Kebir.

In June 1916 (on the 17th) Percy's military travels continued as he embarked on the Kalyan in Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. He landed in Marseilles on the 24th June 1916. On the 2nd July, he was posted to the Trench Mortar School and on the 5th he transferred to the Medium Trench Mortar battery and Z5A Medium Trench Mortar Battery of 5th Australian Division Trench Mortar Brigade.

Percy was promoted to Bombadier (on 27th July) and to Corporal (on the 19th Aug). Two months later Percy was killed in action on the 7th October 1916. He is buried in Cite Bon Jean Military Cemetery in France.

The Wetherby News reported Percy's death:

LOCAL CASUALTIES
 HOW A COLLINGHAM MAN DIED
 Wetherby News 22 Dec 1916
 Mr A Young, Collingham, has received information of the death in action of Percy Maude, youngest son of the late Walter and Alice Maude of Acacia, Collingham. He was 26 years of age, and five months before the war commenced went to Australia, where he joined the Australian Artillery Brigade. He served some considerable time in Egypt, and then went to France, where he was attached to the Trench Mortar Section of his Brigade. He was killed on Oct, 7th last, shot through the throat by a piece of high explosive shell. His commanding officer writes that he died a hero, as he was killed at his post after the remainder of his Section had been wiped out.

Biography last updated 24 June 2020 11:35:40.

Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 25962
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and Burial Reports

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info