HITCHINSON Percy, (Military Medal) Private 266791, 1/7th Liverpool Regiment. Died 19th November 1919. He is at rest in St Chad's churchyard, Over, Cheshire His medal card does not show he was awarded the Military Medal. He was born on the 9th June 1895 to Eli and Agnes who in 1911 were living at 135 Crook Lane Wharton Winsford, Cheshire. Percy for the same year was deckhand on vessel, (towing barge) Africa, docked in Canada Dock, Liverpool aged 16.
Some notes from what remains of his army record. He enlisted on the 9th June 1915 aged 22 as Private 4579, 7th King's Liverpool Regiment given a new number, 266791. He lived at Penrose Villa, Crook Lane, Winsford. He served in France and Belgium from 4th September 1915 to 10th January 1918 He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 14th February 1917.
On the 22nd July 1917 he was at a Court Martial in the field. Charges, (1). Drunkness (2). Committing an offence against a person of an inhabitant of the country in which he was serving . Assualting a Belgium woman by striking her on the hand with a bottle.
He was found guilty on both charges and sentenced to six months servitude hard labour commuted to three months at Pun No 1!! by the G.O.C. of 165th Infantry Brigade. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field as gazetted in London Gazette, Supplement dated 17th September 1917 page 9608. He was posted to the 7th Reserve Battalion on the 30th March 1918 He was discharged for the army as being medically unfit for war service under Pare 392 (XVI) Kings Regulations on the 22nd August 1918 after serving 2 years and 348 days. He was suffering from a Valvular Disease of the Heart . There was an entry stating he was married, no name of his wife was in his records. She called Leah nee Hamlet who he married in 1917 and the marriage registered at Northwich, Cheshire They were living at Hall Top, Darnhall.
