Childs | Percy
Biography
Percy Childs was killed in action on 16 October, 1944. He was 27 years of age and was a Gunner in the 75 Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery (Service No. 1430890). He was initially buried near the premises Jodenpeel D78 Bakel-Milheeze and later re-interred on 29 May 1947 in Grave IV. C. 13 in the Overloon War Graves Cemetery. His inscription reads “Loving husband of Betty and dearest daddy of Michael. Peace, Perfect Peace.”
Military Career
Percy Childs initially enlisted in the Territorial Army for four years on 28 September 1938 at Portland. He gave his date of birth as 28 November 1917 and stated that he was born in Leamington, Warwickshire. He gave his address as 75, High Street, Portland. He named his father, Edward Childs, at the same address, as his next of kin, though may also have named his brother, Charles, again at the same address. He was described as 5 ft 4 ins tall and weighed 146 lbs. He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light coloured hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was declared fit for service. He was working as a labourer, though there is a suggestion that he had also trained as a cook at some point.
He was initially posted as a Gunner in the 180 (Heavy) Battery of the Dorset Royal Regiment of Artillery which was redesignated as the Heavy Regiment RA (TA) on 1 January 1939. He attended an annual camp for 16 days in 1938.
He was called up for military service on 24 August 1939 and was a full time soldier from 1 September 1939. On 15 June 1940 he seems to have been posted to the 164 Devonshire Heavy Regiment. In April 1941, the Devonshire Heavy Regiment was reorganised to form three Coast Regiments, numbered 566–568. All three regiments came under the control of VIII Corps, responsible for the defences of South West England. Percy was posted to 567 Coastal Regiment on 31 May 1941. As the threat from German attack diminished after 1942 there was demand for trained gunners for the fighting fronts. A process of reducing the manpower in the coast defences began. Percy was posted to 568 Coastal Regiment on 18 March 1943. However, this was in the process of being disbanded. He was posted to 566 Coastal Regiment on 19 April 1943.
On 23 November 1943 Percy was posted to the 75th Anti Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery. The 75 Anti-Tank Regiment was based in the UK until June 1944. It was part of 11 Armoured Division.
The Regiment had a poor start when it attempted to land in Normandy after D-Day. The majority of the Regiment embarked at Southend on 14 June but their vessel ran aground on the Goodwin Sands overnight on 15/16 June and had to return to Southend. Percy’s Service Record states that he embarked for North West Europe on 11 June 1944 so it isn’t certain if he was involved in this incident.
By 18 June, the whole Regiment was in Normandy where they supported other Regiments through the rest of June, July and into August. On 21 August, when they were to the south of Falaise in France, it was recorded in the war diary that “Normandy ‘Sack’ closed last night – disaster for the Germans”.
By 31 August, the Regiment had reached Amiens and it was recorded that there was: “a tremendous and very moving welcome given to troops in Amiens and, in fact in all villages passed through since crossing the Seine.”
The Regiment advanced on into Belgium, entering Antwerp on 4 September. Again, there was a report that “since crossing the frontier we have passed through Tournai, Renaix and numerous villages and have encountered scenes of extraordinary enthusiasm everywhere”. They remained in Antwerp until 9 September when they continued the advance, reaching Peer and Wychmael on the 11 and 12 September where they had a brief rest.
On 17 September it was recorded that Operations Market and Garden had commenced and that 8 Corps was to provide right flank protection to 30 Corps. The Regiment began to enter the Netherlands on 20 September. By 25 September, 119 and 338 Batteries had reached St Anthonis. On 26 September, 119 Battery was at Oploo while 338 and 118 were in the vicinity of St Anthonis, with the former providing anti-tank protection for the village. 117 Battery was in Mortel. Percy Childs was in 119 Battery at the time of his death.
On 29 September, 11 Armoured Division was relieved by the 7 US Armoured Division and the Regimental HQ moved to Gemert with Battalions being there and in Mortel where they had a rest and maintenance period until 7 October.
On 7 October, 11 Armoured Division relieved the 7 US Armoured Division in the area south of St Anthonis facing Overloon. At this time, 118 and 338 Batteries were deployed in and around St Anthonis while 119 Battery was in the De Rips area and 117 Battery was in reserve at Mortel. This situation remained the same for the next few days, with the war diary reporting on 10 October that it was “a quiet day. 119 Bty reported shooting impossible owing to pouring rain and bad visibility.” 117 Battery also moved up to St Anthonis on 11 October.
On 12 October it was reported that Operation Constellation had started, with 3 British Division passing through 11 Armoured Division to attack Overloon. On 13 October it was reported that there was some shelling in 119 Battery’s area but no casualties. On 14 October, 119 Battery was reported as resting at De Rips.
It was on 16 October that Gunner Percy Childs and Private D/Op Barnes drove their Bren Gun Carrier towards the wooden bridge over the Defence Canal (now Hazenhutsedijk, de Rips), driving over a landmine. Barnes was slightly wounded and survived the war. Percy Childs was killed instantly and his body was buried directly at the end of the current Hazenhutsedijk, near the border with Limburg.
Percy Childs had served for 6 years and 20 days, of which 129 days were in North West Europe. He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence medal and War Medal 1939/45.
His grave was marked with a stick with his helmet on it. Cor Verwegen took care of this grave with flowers for years until Percy was re-interred at the Overloon War Cemetery in May 1947. However, the stick and helmet were left behind. Cor took the helmet and it served for many years as a feed shovel with the Verwegen family and is currently held in safe keeping at Heemkundevereniging D’n Blik Emmer in de Rips.
Family Background
Percy Childs was the son of Edward Childs and Emily Frances May Brown who had married in Weymouth, Dorset in 1910. It is thought that Emily was known as May, at least in later life. Edward Childs was born on 5 December 1885 in Tottenham while Emily Frances May Brown was born on 14 November 1890 in Owermoigne, Dorset.
Edward had enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1903 (Service Number 219024), initially for 12 years, though he still seems to have been in the Navy in 1921. Emily had been born in Dorset on 14 November 1890.
Edward’s Naval record shows him serving on a mix of ships and shore bases. In 1905/6 he was at a Torpedo Training School. He reached the rank of Leading Seaman in January 1907. In February 1909 he was assigned to HMS Vulcan for the first time. This was a Depot Ship based at Dundee for the 7th Submarine Flotilla. Dundee was one of the Royal Navy’s first permanent submarine bases.
By 1911, Edward and Emily were living in an apartment at 140 Broughty Ferry Road, Dundee. Emily’s sister, Mabel A Brown, aged 18, was also there. Their first child, Charlie James Childs, was born in Dundee in 1911. This was Edward’s third posting to Dundee. He continued to be posted there, interspersed with other postings, until November 1913.
It isn’t known how long Emily remained living in Dundee, but their second child, Harold John Childs, was born late in 1913 in Portland, Dorset, suggesting she had returned there to live by then.
Edward was based at Woolwich in 1914 and was promoted to Petty Officer on 1 August 1914. He seems to have spent the first years of WW1 at a mix of Gosport and Harwich. Gosport was the home of the Royal Navy Submarine School. On 4 August 1916 he was posted to HMS E16. This was an E-class submarine. During World War I she was part of the British submarine flotilla in the Baltic. Edward remained on this until 15 January 1918 when he returned to Gosport.
Meanwhile, Percy Childs was born on 28 November 1917 at 17 Augusta Place, Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. After the war, their third child, William Leonard Childs, was born on 4 August 1920, again in Portland.
By June 1921, Emily was living at 1, West Grove Terrace, Portland, Dorset but Edward was at sea, serving as a Chief Petty Officer on board a Light Cruiser, HMS Carlisle, in the Yellow Sea near China. With Emily were their four children which included Percy.
By September 1939 Edward and Emily were living together at 75 High Street, Fortuneswell, Portland, Dorset. Edward was now working as an Electrical Technical Assistant, having presumably left the Navy. Neither Charlie, Harold nor Percy were present. William Leonard (now referred to as Leonard) was working as a Joiner. Three more of Edward and Emily’s children were present: Katie EM born 1 September 1922; Phillip H born 3 April 1925 and Ivy L V born 14 February 1929. All three had been born in the Weymouth district which includes Portland. Three other unnamed children were present, but it is uncertain who they were. Katie was working as a Messenger Girl and Phillip as a Dairy Worker. Also present was a widow, Mary EK Brown, born 27 December 1870, who was presumably Emily’s mother.
As has been seen, Percy had joined the Territorial Army in 1938 and was in the Army full time by 1 September 1939. On 28 July 1943 he married Betty Eliza Sutton in Calstock, Cornwall. She had been born on 26 June 1923 in Devonport, Devon. After their marriage Percy changed his next of kin to his wife at Fore Street, Calstock, Cornwall.
Percy and Betty had a child, Michael J Childs, in the St German’s district of Cornwall in the last quarter of 1944, so he may possibly have been born after Percy died.
Betty went on to marry Percy’s brother, William Leonard Childs, in 1949 in the Weymouth District. From at least 14 December 1949 she was living at 75 High Street, Portland, at the Childs’ family home. Betty and William had a daughter, Pauline Kay Childs, in 1952 in the Weymouth district.
Percy’s father, Edward Childs, died in 1954 in the Weymouth district.
Percy and Betty’s son, Michael, married Christine A Brown in Weymouth district in 1963 and went on to have children.
Percy’s mother, Emily Frances May Childs, died on 20 June 1977. She had been living at 3 West Wools, Southwell, Portland.
Betty Childs died on 30 November 1995 in Weymouth.
Michael J Childs died on 26 January 2015 in Poole, Dorset.
