3/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Percy Enoch Stockwell was born in 1899 at Paganhill, near Stroud. His father, Enoch Henry Stockwell declared his occupation as a ‘general labourer’ with a brick maker in the 1911 Census. He was married to Helena Eliza Stockwell and the couple had six children, of whom Percy was the eldest. The family home was at Primrose Cottage, Ebley, near Stoud.
In early 1918 Percy was conscripted into the Army and had been posted to the 3/5th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who were based in the Blyth area of Northumberland. This was a training unit, preparing men for service overseas and it also doubled as the Tyne Garrison.
The circumstances of Percy’s death were reported in the Gloucestershire Echo and Gloucestershire Chronicle of 20 and 22 June 1918 respectively.
Enoch Stockwell (age 41) was away in the Army (he may have served as 29557 Private Stockwell in the Hampshire Regiment) but Helena Stockwell continue to live at 5 Primrose Cottage, Ebley. Percy had returned home on draft leave from his camp in Northumberland and was due to return on Tuesday 18 June 1918. He had complained of feeling unwell and remained on a couch overnight and told his mother he would be up in the morning to return. He was missed first thing on Wednesday and a search was made. His tunic was found on the canal bank and his body was subsequently recovered on the Thursday, 20 June from water near Ebley Mill. His death was considered a result of suicide; his age was 19.
He was buried in Cairncross (St Matthew) Churchyard on 25 June, where a CWGC headstone now marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 30 June 2015