Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Percy George Gallant was born in Norwich in 1889 to parents Samuel, a shoemaker, and Alice Gallant.  On the 1901 Census the family were living at 18 Woodhouse Street, however, Alice was listed as a widow, aged 41.  Percy was one of eight children, he has six sisters and a further female is recorded on the Census, Nora, aged three, who was born in York and was adopted. Brother-in-law Alfred Gallant (48) is listed as a boarder,  his occupation was a leather currier.   The 1911 Census records the family as living at 2 Nelson Yard, West Pottergate Street, Norwich.  Percy was  a fitter/engineer, however, on enlistment into the Norfolk Regiment on 15 November 1915, Percy’s occupation is given as a warehouseman and his employers are Chamberlains Ltd of Market Place, Norwich.

In May 1916, Percy transferred to the Machine Gun Corps who were based in Grantham. Percy signed the visitors’ book on 18 July 1916, the same day that he was discharged from Grantham Hospital having been treated there for 13 days with tonsilitis.  He signed the book as G. Gallant, so perhaps he preferred George to Percy?

In September he joined 129^th Company MGC based in the Middle East, however the records show that the climate did not agree with him. He was hospitalised in Mesepotamia (Iran/Iraq) three times in the next eight months with various ailments and in October 1918, he was admitted to Baghdad Hospital with influenza and in December he caught malaria.

Private Gallant was discharged in 23 May 1919, returning to 5 Carlton Grove Road, Norwich where the following year he married Alice Howchin.  Alice died in 1931 and Percy married Rosa Harwood in 1932. Sadly, this marriage was not to last long as Percy died in 1933, aged 40.  No children have been found from either marriage.  We have also found reference, (probate record), to him as Percy Samuel Gallant.

Please get in touch if you can tell us more about Percy George Gallant.