WHALEBELLY, PERCY JAMES
Rank:………………………......Private
Service No:………………….63806
Date of Death:…………….05/03/1919
Age:………………………….....36
Regiment:……………………Suffolk Regiment
……………………………….......Depot Bn.
Grave Reference:………..G. 34.
Cemetery:…………………….WATTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of William and Isabella Fanny Whalebelly of Watton; husband of Sarah Ethel Whalebelly, of White House, Watton.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/75196621/WHALEBELLY,%...
No obvious SDGW entry for this soldier.
The Medal Index Card for Private 63806 Percy J Whalebelly, Suffolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/21/97871
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6430571
His Service Records do not appear to have survived the WW2 blitz.
No match on Picture Norfolk.
Percy is buried in the Non-Conformist Burial Ground which forms part of the Cemetery attached to St Marys.
www.breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/watton_noncon.html
Headstone in the Churchyard
..In Ever Loving Memory..
……………of………………..
……PERCY JAMES………..
The Dearly Loved husband of
SARAH ETHEL WHALEBELLY
Who passed away March 5th 1919
…….Aged 36 years………..
“Faithful even unto death”
1882 – birth
The birth of a Percy James Whalebelly was registered in the Wayland District of Norfolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1882
1891 Census of England and Wales
The 8 year old Percy J Whalebelly, born Watton, was recorded living at a dwelling at Watton, (the relevant page of the schedule and the preceding 8 pages have no specific address). This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 39 and a Butcher from Saham, Norfolk), and Fanny, (aged 40 and from Wangford, Suffolk). As well as Percy, their other children living with them are:-
Walter…….aged 16…….born Lynn, Norfolk….Butcher
Alfred W….aged 14…….born Watton
Gertrude M..aged 13…….born Watton
George…….aged 12…….born Watton
Mabel F……aged 10…….born Watton
His future wife, the 7 year old Sarah Ethel Dawson, born Thorpe, Lincolnshire, was recorded living at Field Lane, Friskney, Lincolnshire. This was the household of her parents, George E, (aged 43 and a Farmer from B????, Lincolnshire) and Annie, (aged 42 and born Thorpe). As well as Sarah their other children are Kate E, (13),Alice Elizabeth, (11), Harriet Emma, (8) – all born Thorpe and Sucy Agness, (6), Eva Ann, (5) and George E, (3), born Friskney.
1901 Census of England and Wales
The Whalebellys were now recorded living at High Street, Watton. As well as parents William, (49) and Fanny, (50), children still at home are Walter, (26, Butcher), Gertie M., (23), Mabel F., (20) and Percy J, (18 – Clothier & outfitter). The family also have a live in servant.
The 18 year old Ethel S Dawson, a Drapers Assistant from “Irby”, Lincolnshire, was recorded living at High Street, Watton. This was the household of George Durrant, a 59 year old widower who was a Grocer and Draper. Ethel was one of several Drapers Assistants living in the household of, (presumably), their employer.
1911 Census of England and Wales
The 28 year old Percy Whalebelly, single and a Butcher from Watton, was recorded as a Visitor in the household of a Horace and Mabel Stratton who lived at Street, Sporle, near Swaffham, Norfolk. I suspect Mabel is his sister, as she was aged 30 and from Watton. As well as Horace and Mabels’ one year old son, the Strattons have another guest staying with them, the 28 year old Ethel Dawson, a Drapers Assistant from Thorpe, Lincolnshire – almost certainly Percys’ future wife.
1915 – Marriage
The marriage of a Percy J Whalebelly to a Sarah E Dawson was recorded in the Bromley District of Kent in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1915.
The marriage of a Percy James Whalebelly, Bachelor, aged 32 and a Butchers’ Clerk from Watton, Norfolk, to a Sarah Ethel Dawson, Spinster, aged 32, and of “Raithby”, Pinewood Road, took place at St Peter and St Paul, Bromley on the 25th January 1915. His father was William Whalebelly, Butcher, and hers was George Edward Dawson, a retired Farmer.
freereg2.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5599cc99f493fddc6f...
1915 – Birth of William
The birth of a William E Whalebelly, mothers maiden name Dawson, was recorded in the Wayland District of Norfolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1915.
On the day
The death of a Percy J Whalebelly, aged 36, was recorded in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1919 in the Exeter District.
The 1919 Probate Calendar records that a Percy James Whalebelly of White House, Thetford Road, Watton, Norfolk, a Private in the Suffolk Regiment, died on the 5th March 1919 at the War Hospital, Exeter. Probate was granted at the Norwich Court on the 6th June 1919 to Sarah Ethel Whalebelly, widow. His effects were valued at £472 18s 11d.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar#calendar
Postscript
It does not look like Sarah ever re-married. It may be a co-incidence, but the death of a Sarah Ethel Whalebelly, born 18th December 1882, was recorded in the Depwade District of Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1973.
The 1973 Probate Calendar has a Sarah Ethel Whalebelly, of The Elms, Earsham, Norfolk who died on the 22nd August 1973.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar#calendar
