BARNEY, Percy Thomas

Percy Barney was born in Dudley and attended Dudley Grammar School. He joined the Army Service Corps and went to the 605th Motor Transport Company. He was a casualty of the sinking of the Italian transport ship, Citta de Palermo, which was transporting a contingent of troops, including 143 British, from Brindisi, Italy, to Durazzo, Albania, on the way to the Bulgarian theatre of war. Unknown to the authorities a German light U Boat had laid mines six miles out from the harbour and at 8.30 a.m. on the 8th January 1916 the vessel struck a mine and was badly damaged. Although local vessels managed to save many men, 84 British troops were drowned, including Private Percy Barney. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, and on Dudley and Dudley Grammar school Memorials.