Mickleham, Surrey War
Memorial - Bombardier Percy Bodman
Royal Garrison Artillery
Percy Bodman married Daisy Arthur at Mickleham Church in 1913 and is buried in the churchyard.
Percy Bodman's name and service number has not yet been found in the WWI CWGC records.
Of the 25 Bodmans listed, none mention Mickleham.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=bodman&initials=&war=1&yearfrom=1900&yearto=2000&force=&nationality=&send.x=46&send.y=7The information that researcher Ian Whitlock initially traced on Percy Bodman, on the Great War Forum, was as follows:
A correspondent, 'DianneD' had found:
Percy Bodman's father William was a railway plate-layer.
Percy married Daisy Arthur in Dorking, Surrey in 1913, she is also named as the next of kin in the pension records of:
Percy Bodman 115724 Royal Garrison Artillery
Attested 1915 in Croydon
Poisoned with gas in 1917, discharged in 1918 with a silver war badge.After discharge he lived with his wife and child in Carshalton
Wife (Next of Kin) lived in Wallington during the war.DianneD looked at the entire census records for Mickleham for 1891 and 1901 but could not find Percy Bodman there but his future wife (Daisy Arthur), aged 15, was living with her family in Mickleham and working as a dressmaker in 1901.
Ian remarked: .. [Percy] would appear to have died of the effects of the gas after the CWGC and SDGW closing date of 1921 or at least was not picked up by either.
However, on 11 Feb 2009 he added: It would appear that Percy Bodman died in Dorking in late 1918 (Death Certificate Q4 1918 Dorking 2a 441) - according to Great War Forum member Chris Harley. If we get hold of a copy of Percy's Death Certificate and photo of the memorial inscription, we could submit the evidence to the CWGC for review. If they agree they will add him to the records.
A breakthrough came on 8 Nov 2011: from Lesley Wood: "I have been attempting to research my grandfather's war record in WW1, and I have discovered that you also are wanting information about him. He enlisted in The Royal Garrison Artillery on 8th Dec 1915 in London as a Bombardier, his Army number is 115724. He was 30 years old.
He served for 1 year and 175 days in the Colours and as a result of gassing he was invalided back to England where he served 260 days with the Army Reserve and was finally discharged on 28th Jan 1918. He died from his injuries (gassing) on 1st Nov 1918 at the Railway Arms (now The Stepping Stones), Westhumble, Mickleham, and is buried at Mickleham Church.
Since my Mother died (Percy's daughter) I now have some of the documents about my grandfather, but I would really like to find out more about his army service in France. My Grandmother Daisy (Percy's wife) died in 1973.
On Armistice Day 2011 Lesley added: Since I started trying to find out about my grandfather my sister has been searching through boxes of old photos etc that she had from our parents' house. She has found a photo of Percy in his uniform which she sent to me today and also a cutting from the newspaper which I attach. I also have a certified copy of his death certificate, and my sister has found his marriage certificate. He married my Grandma at Mickleham Church on 27th March 1913.
Lesley Wood at her grandfather's
grave in Mickleham Churchyard, 2009
IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
MY DEAR HUSBAND
PERCY BODMAN
WOUNDED 9TH JULY 1917
DIED 1ST NOV 1918
AGED 32 YEARS
AT REST
Percy Bodman
The cuttings above tell us more about Percy: L-R:
Roll of Honour:
BODMAN.- On November 1st at West Humble, Dorking, of wounds received in action, France, 1917, Percy Bodman, age thirty-two years. Interred Mickleham Church.Photo caption:
The late Actg.-Bombardier P Bodman RGA
formerly on the staff of the CPR [editor: Canadian Pacific Railway] Passenger DepartmentAshford News:
Bombardier Percy Bodman, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died on November 1st and was buried at Mickleham churchyard, Box Hill, Dorking, was the eldest son of Mr WJ Bodman, who resides at Draywood, Bilsington. He enlisted on December 8th, 1915, and went to France on December 23rd 1916. He was gassed and wounded on August 6th, 1917*, and was sent to England on August 9th. He was thirty-two years old and leaves a widow and baby girl. For seventeen years deceased was with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company at their London city offices. He was for some time organist and choirmaster at Frencham parish church, also deputy organist at Browning Hall and St Mary's Church, Soho, London, where he made many friends. Mr SL Furniss, Mr HG Dring and Mr WE Chudleigh represented the Canadian Pacific Railway Company at the funeral. USA and Canadian papers are asked to copy this notice.* [Editor: his gravestone states he was wounded on 9th July 1917]
Photos source: Lesley Wood, unless otherwise stated
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page created 9 Nov 11: last updated 12 Nov 11
