Main CPGW Record
Surname: WHARTON
Forename(s): Percy
Place of Birth: Gargrave, Yorkshire
Service No: 7070
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/5th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 22
Date of Death: 1916-09-03
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 A and 6 B.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: GARGRAVE, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Percy Wharton was the son of Michael and Elizabeth Wharton, née Heslegrave and brother of Sergeant Richard Wharton (12139) (q.v.). Their father was born at Aberford and mother at Micklefield, Yorkshire. Percy and Richard’s sister, Mary Alice, was married to Private Robert Duxbury (235186) (q.v.).
1901 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 8, George Street - Percy Wharton, aged 6 years, born Gargrave, Yorkshire, son of Marshall [sic] and Elizabeth Wharton.
1911 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 8, George Street - Percy Wharton, aged 16 years, born Gargrave, Yorkshire, son of Michael and Elizabeth Wharton.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Percy Wharton, 242711, W. Rid. R.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Percy Wharton, 242711, 1/6 W. Rid. R. Died 3.9.16.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Percy Wharton, 242711; 7070, 1/6 W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 3.9.16. On or since. Death pres'd. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - Michael. £4 14s. 9d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: joint card(s) exist for Percy and Richard: Pte Percy Wharton, 242711, 5369, West Riding. Assumed to have died 3.9.16. Sgt Richard Wharton, 12139, West Riding. Killed in action 12.10.18. Name(s) on card(s): Dependant: Mrs Elizabeth Wharton. Relationship: Mother. Dependant: Mr Michael Wharton. Relationship: Father. Address: 8, George Street, Earby, Nr Colne.
Although SDGW and CWGC state that Percy served with the 1/6th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), he is not listed as a casualty in that battalion’s war diary for the 3 September 1916. He was killed in action with the 1/5th Bn. (See 'Craven Herald' and 'West Yorkshire Pioneer' articles of 13 October 1916).
See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘From Mills to Marching and Back Again – A History of Gargrave from 1900 to 1925’ by Sue Lyall and Donavon Slaven with contributions from George Ingle, Ray Jones and Martin Thompson (2019).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
WHARTON, Percy, aged 22, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, 8, George Street, [Earby], reported missing September 3, 1916 now presumed dead.
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Private Percy WHARTON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Earby (Wheatlands) Cemetery
Family gravestone (with memorial inscription)
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
13 October 1916
EARBY
Two Earby soldiers are reported missing– Pte. James Moles, since August 18th, and Pte. Percy Wharton (1/5th Duke of Wellington’s), since September 3rd.
03 November 1916
EARBY MAN MISSING
Pte. Percy Wharton, Duke of Wellington’s (7070), has been officially reported missing since September 3rd. Any news of him will be gratefully received by his parents, 8, George Street, Earby. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have three other sons in the Army – Sergt. Allen Wharton, in the 10th Duke of Wellington’s, and Lance-Corporal Richard Wharton, in the 9th, and another on home service. The two first mentioned have been in France during the greater part of the conflict. A son-in-law, Gunner Frank Whitehead, is serving in India.
17 August 1917
WHARTON – Missing since September 3rd 1916, and death now officially presumed, Pte. Percy Wharton, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Wharton, 8, George Street, Earby, aged 22 years.
17 August 1917
EARBY – MISSING MAN’S DEATH PRESUMED
The Army Council have sent to Mr. and Mrs. M. Wharton, 8, George Street, Earby, an official intimation presuming the death in France of their youngest son, Private Percy Wharton, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who had been missing since September 3rd of last year. He was 22 years of age and unmarried. Before enlisting he was employed at Messrs. A. J. Birley’s Ltd. as a weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have two sons still in France who have been there two years, and two in training in England. A son-in-law (Rifleman Robert Duxbury) has been missing since May 12th, and another son-in-law is serving in India.
10 October 1919
WHARTON – In ever loving memory of my dear brothers, Sergeant Richard Wharton, killed in action October 12th, 1918, and Private Percy Wharton, reported missing September 3rd, 1916, afterwards presumed dead.
Some day we hope to meet them,
Some day we know not when;
To clasp their hands in a better land,
Never to part again.
Ever remembered by their loving sister Alice and nieces Freda, Elsie and Hetty, 75 Colne Road, Earby.
15 October 1920
WHARTON – In ever loving memory of my dear brothers, Sgt. Richard Wharton, killed in action, October 12th, 1918; also Private Percy Wharton, presumed killed September 3rd, 1916.
There is a link that death cannot sever,
Love and remembrance live for ever.
Ever remembered by their loving Sister and Nieces, 75 Colne Road, Earby.
14 October 1921
WHARTON – In ever loving memory of my dear brother, Sergt. Richard Wharton, killed in action, October 12th, 1918, and Private Percy Wharton, presumed killed, Sept. 3rd, 1916.
Ever remembered by their loving Sister and Nieces, 75 Colne Road, Earby.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
13 October 1916
EARBY CASUALTIES
Two Earby soldiers are reported missing – Pte. James Moles, since August 18th, and Pte. Percy Wharton (1st 5th Duke of Wellington’s) since September 3rd.
03 November 1916
EARBY MAN MISSING
Pte. Percy Wharton, Duke of Wellington’s (7070), has been officially reported missing since September 3rd. Any news of him will be gratefully received by his parents, 8, George Street, Earby. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have three other sons in the army – Sergt. Allen Wharton, in the 10th Duke of Wellington’s, Lance-Corporal Richard Wharton, in the 9th, and another on home service. The two first-mentioned have been in France during the greater part of the conflict. A son-in-law, Gunner Frank Whitehead, is serving in India.
17 August 1917
EARBY
MISSING MAN’S DEATH PRESUMED
The Army Council have sent to Mr. and Mrs. M. Wharton, 8, George Street, Earby, an official intimation presuming the death in France of their youngest son, Pte. Percy Wharton, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who had been missing since September 3rd of last year. He was 22 years of age and unmarried. Before enlisting he was employed at Messrs. A.J., Birley’s Ltd., as a weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have two sons still in France who have been there two years, and two in training in England. A son-in-law, Rifleman Robert Duxbury, has been missing since May 19th, and another son-in-law is serving in India.
01 November 1918
Earby Family’s Third Bereavement
Sergt. R. Wharton, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, killed in France on Oct. 12th, was the second son lost in the war by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wharton, 8, George Street, Earby, who have also lost a son- in-law. Sergt. Wharton, who was 27 years of age and unmarried, enlisted immediately after the outbreak of hostilities, and had spent three years and four months on the Western front Three other sons and a son-in-law are still in the ranks, one of these (Sergt. Allan Wharton) being in France. Amongst the letters of sympathy received by the bereaved family is one from Sec. Lieut. Honeyman, who writes:– “Sergt. Wharton was our Company Lewis Gun Sergeant, and was attached to my platoon. He was a brave soldier, who never shirked his duty – far from it. He was most keen about his work and encouraged many of our young recruits to take a deep interest in Lewis gunnery.” He was buried at Neville [Neuvilly]. Sergt. Wharton was formerly employed by Messrs. A.J. Birley, Ltd., Albion Shed.
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