Thank you to Margaret Dennis for the following research.
Percy James Wilmot, son of Thomas and Fanny Eliza Wilmot, was born on 26th June 1896 in Holmwood, Surrey.
At the time the 1891 census was taken, before Percy’s birth, his family were living at 26, Grove Lane, Camberwell. His parents Thomas and Fanny had four children, Mary Elizabeth Fanny aged 6, Thomas Arthur aged 4, James Hugh aged 3 and Daisy May aged 6 months. The family had one domestic servant, Emma King, working for them. Percy’s father was described as being a teacher at an elementary school. When Hester was baptised the following year, the family were living at 52, Poplar Walk, Herne Hill. Percy’s brother James and sister Daisy died in 1893. When Percy’s sister Lilian May was born the following year, the family were living at 29, Middleton Road, Battersea. His parents had moved to Holmwood near Dorking, Surrey when Percy was born in 1896.
Aged 4, Percy and his family had moved to “Ilfracombe”, The Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey when the 1901 census was taken. His father was still teaching and his 14-year-old brother Thomas, was working as an apprentice grocer. His sister Mary, aged 16, was not working but, as they had no servants, was probably helping their mother look after him as well as his other siblings Hester Olive aged 8, Lilian aged 6, Cecil John aged 2 and 9 month old Ruth Alice.
When the 1911 census was taken, 14-year-old Percy was serving an apprenticeship to become a motor and cycle engineer. The family were now living in “Stoneleigh Cottage”, Worcester Park, Surrey. His sister Hester was aged 18 but not working and his younger siblings, Cecil aged 12 and Ruth aged 10 were still at school. His father was teaching in a school run by the County Council. Percy’s parents confirmed that they had been married for 27 years and had had 10 children, three of whom had died.
Percy joined the Navy on 18 February 1913 with the rank ‘Boy 2’. When he signed up he was 5 feet 3½ inches tall and had a chest measurement of 34 inches. He had brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. Before joining the navy he had worked as a ‘Motor Boy’.
On 22 October 1913 he was promoted to ‘Signal Boy’, and promoted again on 26 June 1914, his 18th birthday, to ‘Ordinary Signalman’. Finally on 26 February 1915 he was promoted to ‘Signalman’. Throughout his naval career he was always appraised as very good in character and ability.
When WW1 was declared, Percy joined the Royal Navy as a signaller. He was one of the crew aboard H.M.S. Ardent when an enemy German battleship sank it on 1 June 1916 during the Battle of Jutland. Percy was declared ‘killed or died as a direct result of enemy action’.
Extract from the Official History; “Naval Operations” by Sir Julian S. Corbett. 1923:
……….This destroyer now found herself alone, and having escaped with little injury, made away southwards in the hope of finding the rest of her division, which in fact had ceased to exist. What she fell in with was something quite different. ………….. Lieutenant-Commander A. Marsden in the Ardent saw smoke ahead of him, and thinking it came from his consorts he made towards it. Then the form of a large German ship loomed up, and without hesitation he attacked. Another torpedo was fired at very close range, but before he could see the result he was blinded by the searchlights of four battleships in line ahead. Out of the glare came the inevitable hurricane of shell. In a minute or so the Ardent was a mere mass of scrap-iron, and switching off their lights the enemy disappeared and left her to sink helpless and in total darkness. She was lost with all hands except Lieutenant-Commander Marsden and one man…………..
Percy’s body was never recovered for burial but he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial as well as on the St Mary’s church Cuddington memorial and on the Worcester Park memorial in the grounds of the now demolished St Philip’s Church, in Cheam Common Road.
Percy was awarded the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Thomas and Fanny E Wilmot, Stoneleigh Cottage, Worcester Park, Surrey | |
| Regiment | HMS Ardent. Royal Navy | |
| Number | J/23264 | |
| Date of Death | 1st June 1916 | |
| Place of Death | At Sea in Jutland | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 19 | |
| Memorial |
Portsmouth Naval Memorial |
For more information on Percy Wilmot, visit Epsom and Ewell History Explorer.
