Percy Ketch (1898-1964)
Darlington man served with Durham Light Infantry
From Shaun:
He was injured in the shoulder manning a lewis machine gun during the action at Arras that won him the Military Medal.
I’m not sure who the other men are in the photograph.
Durham at War Team:
This is a summary of the aftermath of 23 April 1917, the day for which Ketch won the Military Medal:
Just as day was breaking, we again crossed the Cojeul valley and marched wearily back to Telegraph Hill. Near Albatros Bank and in the valley were many signs of the previous day’s battle – bodies of men and mules, equipment, the smell of exploded shells – but perhaps the most striking thing was a group of two prisoners and their escort lying together, victims of a German shell.
It had been a bad day for us as we had lost heavily without having much to show for it. Our causalities were 4 officers killed or died of wounds, 2 wounded and 1 taken prisoner, while among the men we had had 83 killed, 124 wounded and 49 taken prisoner (many of them being wounded), making a total of 8 officers and 256 other ranks. Seven men were killed during the preliminary bombardment on April 21st, which makes the total killed 97 and total casualties 263.
extract from Major A L Raimes “The Fifth Battalion Light Infantry, 1914-1918” London, 1931
On researching Ketch’s background it has emerged that he must have been a foster child. On the 1901 census he is recorded as living with Thomas and Margaret Rowell and their daughter Emily. Percy and another little boy, Edward Braggs, have “Nurse C[hild]” entered into the column for “relation to the head of the household”. Ten years later, Percy is still living the now widowed Margaret and the only other member of the household is a three-year-old “nurse child”, Emily Thompson.
Civil Parish: Darlington
Birth date: 1898
Death date: 1964
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 18 Florence Street, Darlington (1901 and 1911 census)
Military service:
Service numbers: 4185, 200570
1/5 Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Promoted to corporal
Medal(s): Military Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Shaun_Ackerley, Darlington
