COLE, Percy

Percy Cole was the son of Tom and Ellen Cole of 33 Maple Road, Blackheath. He enlisted in the Lincolns and was sent to the 1st Battalion. He was probably one of the thousands of 'young' soldiers released for the front line after the devastating losses during the 1918 German Spring offensives. The 1st Lincolns took part in the Battle of Albert which opened on the 21st August and which was the start of the unbroken success of the Advance to Victory. He was seriously injured and died of wounds on the 23rd August 1918. He was 18 years of age and is buried in Bagneux Cemetery, Gezaincourt (V A 11) and commemorated on the Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.