Percy Kitch was born in the spring of 1897 in Northmoor Green, to the south east of Bridgwater, Somerset. His parents were Francis and Mary Jane Kitch, and he was the youngest of their eight children. Francis – who was better known as Frank – was a farm labourer, and this is something that Percy and his siblings went into when they finished their schooling.

When war broke out, Percy was called upon to play his part, and enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps as a Private. Unfortunately, little information still exists about his life at this time and, in fact, only one document – his pension ledger card – remains to confirm details of his service.

The card confirms that Private Kitch was attached to the Remount Service, and that he passed away on 31st October 1918, having contracted influenza. He was just 21 years of age. The document gives his mother, Mary Jane, as a dependent, and details the army pension she was awarded after his passing: 5 shillings per week, for life.

Percy Kitch was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Peter & St John’s Church in his home village of Northmoor Green.

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