WWI Victory Medal. Reed. Petersfield, Hampshire. Dorset Regiment. Killed in action 1918.

Correctly named 24837 Pte P Reed Dorset R

Percy was born in Froxfield in Hampshire to Joseph and Martha in 1895.

We find the family in 1911 when Percy is working as a grocers assistant living at 18 Sheep Street, Petersfield. His father had died in 1904.
He served with the 5th Bn Dorset Regiment and is entitled to a WWI pair.

He later served with the 2nd Bn Wiltshire Regiment and was with these when he was killed in action on the 31st of May 1918. He there held the service number 27849.

Medal rolls state Percy as serving with the 6th Bn and KIA on the 31/4/1918 although all other records state the 31st of May.

2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment from April until May 1918.

By April the battalion had been reformed and they were again fighting the Germans near Ypres. They later transferred to the 19th Division and absorbed some of the 6th Battalion after their disbandment. They then assisted in training the newly arrived Americans. They then came under the control of the French and took up positions on the River Marne. On the 29th May near Bligny whilst acting as outposts they came under severe German attack, whilst their comrades in the 1st Battalion were at Faverolles only five miles away suffering the same fate. They fought for several days very nearly being encircled. Again casualties were heavy and they then formed part of a composite battalion known as the 58th.

He is remembered upon the Soissons Memorial in France.

The medal has an original silk ribbon.