MAIDEN, Percy

Percy Maiden was the son of John and Mary Ann Maiden of 6 Somers Road, Halesowen, and he attended Halesowen C of E school. He worked for Walter Somers and Co. and enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment. He was sent to the 1st Battalion which suffered very severely in the last year of the war, especially during the German Spring Offensives. In March they had to retreat in the Battle of Bapaume. In April they were pushed back in the Battle of the Lys. In May, when they had been sent to a quiet sector, they endured even more losses in the Battle of the Aisne. On the 27th May the German army attacked with surprise and with great force on the river Vesle. The Wiltshires lost heavily and among the severely wounded was Private Percy Maiden. He was taken to a base hospital at Wimille near Boulogne where he died. He was 18 years of age and is buried in Terlincthun Cemetery, Wimille, (XVII F 25) and commemorated on the Halesowen, Halesowen C of E school and Walter Somers and Co. Memorials.