CH19128 Pte Percy William Smith enlisted with the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 15 September 1914 in Bristol. I have as yet been unable to find out why he enlisted at Bristol when he lived in London, I can only assume that he was there during his work as a Carter. Following his enlistment Percy spent some time at the Recruitment Depot undergoing training before finally transferring to Chatham Division on 28 January 1915. Percy was a very colourful character and would often go AWOL. The first recorded instance was on 26 April 1915 when he was absent from 08:30 until 05:20am on 30 April 1915. He was given 14 days CB and forfeited 5 days pay.
He went AWOL again on 14 June 1915 from 21:30 until 01:45 on 23 June 1915. He was given 10 days’ detention and forfeited 10 days' pay. On 16 July 1915 Percy joined HMS Duncan and continued in his previous fashion. He returned on board ship from shore leave drunk on 15 January 1916 for which he forfeited 1 days pay and 15 days grog and on 25 March 1916 he was insolent to an Officer for which he received 5 days No 10(?).
CH19128 Private Percy W Smith
After Percy's return to the UK he rejoined the Chatham Division and, once back on dry land, his periods of unauthorised absence resumed. On 5 May 1917 he was absent from shore camp from midnight until 22:30 on 9 May 1917, he forfeited 10 days' pay. On 26 May 1917 he went absent at 21:45pm until he was apprehended at Lea Bridge Road, Leyton at 08:45 on 31 May 1917, having disobeyed an order for leaving the garrison without permission. He was given 21 days detention and forfeited 4 days' pay and then subsequently a further 6 days' pay.
On 21 July 1917 Percy again went absent from shore camp from 21:45 until 09:10 on 24 July 1917, he was given 120 hours detention and forfeited 4 days' pay. The 15 August 1917 saw a further absence from 21:45 until 22:40pm the same day for which he spent 3 days confined to barracks.
HMS Duncan
Percy joined the 1st (Reserve) RM Battalion on 27 August 1917, and he went absent again the same day at 12:40 until being apprehended by Military Police in Waterloo Road, London at 05:15 on 4 September 1917. For this absence he was ordered to undergo 18 days FP No 2 and forfeited 6 days pay. His final absence before being drafted was on 24 October 1917 at 21:30, with him finally returning on 05:45am on 2 November 1917, which meant that he had evaded his original draft date.
He subsequently travelled from Folkstone to Boulogne on 6 November 1917 and arrived in Calais on 7 November 1917 where he was sent to a base depot. Percy then joined the 2nd RM Battalion at Steenbrugge on 16 November 1917 for platoon and specialist training.
RMLI Cap Badge
On 22 June 1918 Percy fell ill with Influenza and was taken, by 148th Field Ambulance, to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station for treatment. On 29 June 1918 Percy was transferred to 2nd Convalescence Depot in Rouen. Whilst at Rouen, Percy went AWOL for 24 hours from 21:00 on 5th July 1918 to 21:20 on 6th July 1918. He was awarded 14 days FP No2 and forfeited 2 days pay before transferring to Calais on 11 July 1918. On 30 August 1918 he rejoined 1st RM Battalion.
Percy was granted leave to the UK and left on 12 October 1918. On 19 October 1918 he married my gran, Polly Ann Zillah Long, who was in the Women's Land Army, and returned to France on 26 October 1918 and further training at Anneux until 31 October 1918 when transport left for a new area. On 2 January 1919 Percy was awarded special leave to the UK until 9 February 1919, this was subsequently extended until 17 February 1919 for urgent private affairs, although I have no information for this leave. Percy re-joined his Battalion on 26 February 1919. On 22 May 1919 Percy embarked at Dunkirk for return to the UK.
Once back in the UK Percy went back to his wayward streak and went AWOL at midnight on 27 July 1919, returning at 10:45 on 28 July 1919, he was confined to barracks for 7 days and forfeited 1 day's pay.
Polly Ann Zillah Long
On 29 July 1919 he presented himself improperly dressed and wearing badges he was not entitled to, being 1 GC badge, 1 wound stripe, 1 red chevron (1914) and a Lewis Gun badge. For this offence he was confined to barracks for 14 days. Unfortunately, Percy seemed unable to obey orders and broke out of the barracks on 4 August 1919 at 17:00 and remained absent until 19/20 August 1919. He was originally ordered to undergo 28 days detention but, having provided a certificate from a GP confirming that Percy had suffered from PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) and had been unable to return to normal duties, he was subsequently granted 28 days demob leave.
It didn't stop there however, and on 30 September 1919 Percy again went AWOL whilst on active service. He gave himself up on 27 October 1919 but had returned without much of his equipment, clothing and regimental necessities. On 29 October 1919 an order was drawn for a Court Martial hearing charging him for desertion and losing his kit. On 18 November 1919 Percy was sentenced to 35 days detention and was subsequently discharged from service on 13 December 1919. Although Percy constantly went AWOL during leave, his records do not show that he ever carried this through his active service on the front line, and he seemed to be a very dedicated soldier during the periods of battle.
Having now found his Medal Index Card, Percy was entitled to all three campaign medals, which he did receive. However, although my dad (Percy's son) remembers playing with them as a child, we have no idea where they are now.
To view extracts from the Battalion Diary for the times Percy was on active duty please click HERE
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