By MAGGIE GIBSON DEREK Sole will stand before the war memorial in Chatteris on Sunday to pay tribute to an uncle who died in the First World War weeks before the armistice, he was just 20 years old. Until recently Percy Sole was just a name – Derek knew n
By MAGGIE GIBSON
DEREK Sole will stand before the war memorial in Chatteris on Sunday to pay tribute to an uncle who died in the First World War weeks before the armistice, he was just 20 years old.
Until recently Percy Sole was just a name - Derek knew nothing about him other than he was his father's brother.
Mr Sole of Stitch Road, Friday Bridge, said: "For some reason my father never mentioned him but I knew he had fought in the war. I first found out about him by writing to the War Graves Commission
"The Soles were a Chatteris family and his name is on the war memorial. I will be very proud when I stand there and people should remember there were lots of Chatteris men who died for their country and the people of the town."
Percy of London Road, enlisted with the 1st Battalion of The Northamptonshire Regiment on August 25 1916. The 1st Battalion were stationed at Dettingen Barracks, Blackdown, at the outbreak of the war and formed part of the British Expeditionary Force leaving Aldershot for France in August 1914.
They took part in the major battles of the war including Mons, Ypres, Loos, the Somme and Arras. Percy was killed in action on September 24 1918.
On the night of the September 23 and 24 the battalion left the wood near Vermand and moved up to an assembly position just south of the ruined village of Berthacourt to capture the sunken road. The 1st Battalion sustained 200 casualties during the operation.
Percy's grave is in the Berthaucourt Communal Cemetery on the outskirts of Pontrou. There are more than 70 1914-18 war casualties commemorated at the site.
"I would love to be able to go and visit his grave," said 76-year-old Derek, who has some photographs of the cemetery taken by a friend. "People just look at the names of the war memorial without thinking about the stories behind them. Now at least I know about my uncle."
Pte P Sole, No 14286 is also listed in the Memorial Room at Abington Park Museum.
REMEMBRANCE 2008
BENWICK
SERVICE 10am, Village Hall followed by act of remembrance.
CHATTERIS
REMEMBRANCE service at 3pm, beginning at the war memorial. The parade starts 2.45pm at Furrowfields.
COATES
SERVICE at War Memorial followed by Service of Remembrance at Holy Trinity Church, 10.45am.
CHRISTCHURCH
SERVICE at village church 9.30am, with act of remembrance at war memorial during service.
DODDINGTON
HOLY Communion Service, St Mary's Church, 10am followed by act of remembrance.
ELM
Service at All Saints at 10am followed by procession to war memorial
EASTREA
Act of Remembrance at Eastrea War Memorial at noon.
MANEA
EX-SERVICE, Royal British Legion members and Women's Section assemble at Churchyard at 2.45pm (no parade). Service at St Nicolas Church 3pm, Manea Silver Band to attend.
MARCH
PARADE meets at Sainsbury's Car Park at 10.15am and marches off at 10.30am to St Peter's Church for Service of Remembrance. Leave church for wreath laying at War Memorial at noon.
OUTWELL
ASSEMBLE at Beaupre School 2.15pm, march to war memorial for act of remembrance at 2.30pm, followed by service at St Andrew's Methodist Church.
TURVES
ACT of Remembrance at War Memorial following the service at Holy Trinity Church, Coates (10.45am).
WHITTLESEY
PROCESSION meets at Ivy Leaf Club at 2pm, leaves at 2.15pm. parade to St Mary's Church stopping at war memorial for wreath laying ceremony. Civic service at St Mary's is at 3pm.
WIMBLINGTON
ACT of Remembrance, 10.50am, followed by morning prayer, St Peter's Church.
WISBECH
MEET in market place 10.30am, march to war memorial for act of remembrance starting at 10.50am. Parade into church for civic ceremony at 11.15am.
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