Private Percy Dewhurst
16818 10th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Lived at 22 Carter Street
Killed in Action 15th September 1916, aged 22
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
Burnley Express 6th October 1915 - 14th October 1916

Burnley Express - 14th October 1916 Survivor of Loos Twice wounded: Now Killed

On Tuesday, Mrs Dewhurst, of 22, Carter Street, Burnley, received official intimation that her son, Pte. Percy Dewhurst (16818), of the Scottish Rifles, was killed in action on September 15th. Pte. Dewhurst who was 22 years of age, was formerly a drawer at Clifton Pit, and connected with St. John’s Church, Gannow. He was a member of the St. John’s football team. He took part in the great Loos engagement, where he was wounded. In a letter written to his father at the time he said:-

“I am mending nicely I am still in bed, for I had two pieces of shrapnel taken of my left leg and shoulder, and I feel a bit easier without them, but I have a few more yet, as I have got little bits scattered about from my shoulder to my foot. So you see I have got plenty of souvenirs to go on with.”

The young soldier described how his regiment was in the trenches while the great bombardment took place, and then tells how they advanced on the German trenches.

“When we got to the German trenches “he said, “there were a lot of dead in them, and some of the other had run into their dug-outs afraid of coming out. But we made them come out. You would have laughed to see them when they came out. They dropped on their knees, up with their hands, and shouted ‘Mercy, English.’ After we got over their trenches we got them on the run till we got up Hill 70, but I did not get so far. As I was going through a village called Loos a shell burst only three yards in front of us. Three of us were wounded, knocked to the ground, and rendered unconscious for five minutes. When I was picked up I did not know where I was.”

He recovered from those wounds, and went back to the front and was wounded again. Pte. D. McQueen, of the Cameron Highlanders, writing to Mr. Dewhurst on September 23rd said:

“You will doubtless have heard from the War Office that your son was killed in action a short time ago – some time about the 15th of this month. We came across his body immediately afterwards and the enclosed ………… were found in his pocket. I thought I would forward them to you, as I know you would be glad to receive something to remind you of the son who has given his life for his country. Needless to say, we gave him a soldier’s burial. Finally, please accept my sympathy and condolence, and also that of my comrades, in the great loss you have sustained by the death of your son. Yet you have the satisfaction of knowing he died doing his bit for the old country.”