2nd Lieut Percival Graham Statton

• Age: 22
• From: Devonport, Devon
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 18th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Abbeville C C Ext
  Panel Ref: II.E.22

Percival Graham Statton was born on 16th October 1894 at Devonport the only son of William George Statton and his wife Rose (nee Knight) who were married in 1890. His father was from Woolwich, Kent and his mother from Brixham, Devon. 

The Census record for 1901 shows the family are living at 5 Second Avenue, Devonport, Stoke Damerel, Devon. William, born 1869 is shown as a Civil Engineer and his wife Rose, born 1871 is a House furnishers Clerk. There are two children shown in the household, Percival Graham and his elder sister Winifred Mabel.

He was baptised alongside his sister Winifred Mabel on 28th Septemebr 1904 at St James the Great Church in Devonport. The baptismal record shows the family are living at 85 Alcaster Street, Stoke, his father is an accountant.

1911 Census - Parents are at 27 Trafalgar Place, Stoke, Devonport and Percival is a boarder age 16 with Mr and Mrs Holter at 15 Bontflower Road, Battersea, he is a civil service clerk.

Percival Graham joined the Honourable Artillery Company as Private 3707 on 02nd June 1915 giving his address as 27 Trafalgar Place, Stoke Plymouth. He  served with H.A.C. until 01st October 1915 when he transferred to the Artists Rifles Cadet School. He was there until he was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant on 18th December 1916. Nothing at all is known about his service with the 18th Battalion, as does not appear in the Battalion War Diary at all.

He died on the 18th April 1917, at the base hospital at Abbeville, from wounds received in action and is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension France, in Plot 2, Row E, Grave 14, he was aged twenty two. His headstone does not bear the Eagle and Child of the Pals Battalions, but the White Horse of Hanover worn by the Regular and some Territorial Battalions before the war. 

Logically he would have been moved to Abbeville from a battle front, and as the Battalion took part in the Battle of Arras only a week before his death, then this was probably where he was fatally wounded. This is supported by a report in his local Newspaper, ‘The Western Evening Herald’,which in the edition of 23rd April 1917,reported his death from wounds received on 9th April which was the first day of the Battle of Arras, in northern France.

On that day, the Battalion was on the left flank of the attack made by the 21st Infantry Brigade on the Hindenburg Line, the objective being the German front line trench system. This attack meant an advance of more than 2,000 yards of open ground, under fire from enemy weapons of all calibres. Once the Battalion had reached a position in front of the German line, it was discovered that the wire was practically uncut and despite an attempt to force a breakthrough, the Battalion had to dig in where it was, until relieved by the 16th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, at 3am the following morning. During that period losses were suffered from intense rifle and machine gun fire.

Although the Battalion War Diary only mentions three Officer Casualties on that day, Second-Lieutenant F Ashcroft and Second-Lieutenant HG Ewing, who were killed in action and Second-Lieutenant Stewart who was reported missing it does not mention any officers being wounded. However Second-Lieutenant Statton must have been wounded in the same action, and for some reason, the wounding was not recorded.

He now rests at Abbeville Communal Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE”

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. The Extension contains 1,754 First World War burials and 348 from the Second. The Commonwealth sections of both cemetery and extension were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

A report on Percival’s death appeared in the Western Morning News 23rd April 1917.

Sec.Lt. P. G. S TATTON -Sec Lt Percival G Statton, Kings Liverpool reported to have died 18th inst from wounds received on 9th was the son of Mr & Mrs W G Statton of Trafalgar Place, Stoke. He obtained his commission last December.

His parents are still alive in 1939 and were living at 24 Lockyer Road Plymouth. Rose died 25/12/1947 and William George died 11/11/1952 in Torquay. Probate for William was to Winifred Mabel Grant £2058.81.

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