ARBON, Percy William


No.2069, Private, Percy William ARBON
Aged 19


1st/5th Bn. Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Sunday, 26th September 1915


Born in Stowmarket in 1896 (Qtr 1 Stow 4a:813), son of William John and Sarah Ann ARBON (née NEWELL).

1901 census...Aged 5, he was at 13 Bishops Road, Bury St.Edmunds with his father William J ARBON [32] machine fitter, born Kentish Town; his mother Sarah A [31] born Bury St.Edmunds; sisters Ellen L [8] born Stowmarket and Ethel May [1] born BSE; brother George C [6] born Stowmarket.

His mother died in 1904 and father married Mary Jane AXTEN in 4th qtr of 1908 in Bury St Edmunds (born in Hazelmere, Bucks). His half brother Charles Edwin was born in 1909.

1911 census...Aged 15, an errand boy, he is at 13 Bishops Road, BSE with his step-mother Mary Jane [37]; step-brother Stanley William AXTEN [12], brother Albert Edward [9] and half-brother Charles Edwin [1], his brothers all born in Bury St Edmunds. Further half-brothers were Frederick Arthur [1912] and Richard Stanley [1916]

The pension card has his father still at 13 Bishops Road, BSE and a record of Emma Jane CATTON of 122 Eastgate Street as guardian of an illegitimate child, possibly George CATTON, born BSE (3rd qtr 1915 4a:1629).


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. The 1st/5th battalion had embarked at Liverpool on 30th July 1915, landing at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 10th August
It seems likely that Percy was wounded in Gallipoli and was brought back to hospital in Malta, where he died




photo C.W.G.C.


Percy Arbon is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta B:XIV:3

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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