On this, the 99th anniversary of the second day of fighting at Loos on 26th September 1915, S/1148 Corporal Percy Hulse of the Rifle Brigade died of wounds. He was one of 2,471 British Army casualties on this day. At the time of his death he was just nineteen years old, the son of Joseph and Sophia Hulse of 19, Princess St., Crewe.
Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that he was born in Sydney, Cheshire and enlisted at Crewe, his place of residence. His medal index card (above, courtesy of Ancestry) notes that he arrived overseas in France on the 21st July 1915. Chris Baker's Long, Long Trail website notes that the 11th Rifle Brigade arrived in France on the 21st July 1915 whilst the 12th arrived on the 22nd. Perhaps, in that case, Percy originally went overseas with the 11th and was subsequently posted to the 12th. Either way, he was certainly an original member of one of those battalions. His number dates to September 1914.
Percy is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery in France.
