Percy Sayles (1885–1967)

Trooper

Derbyshire Yeomanry 2998 & 75933  

Photo courtesy Fred Sayles

Photo of Percy Sayles

Biography
Percy was born at Crich in 1896, the son of Joseph and Emma Sayles. Before the war he was a grocer’s assistant and spent some time in Ridgeway Isolation Hospital with his sister Ethel. He served in Salonika where he had his horse shot from under him and where he met his aunt, Elsie Sayles, who was working as a nurse at the Military Hospital there. Percy Sayles married Constance I Carpenter in 1932 September qtr (Belper reg district)

There is a British Pathé newsreel clip of British Troops in Salonika.
View the clip. (wait for download)

Medal Roll Index
Percy was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Family History Notes
Fred Sayles
Whilst he was soldiering in Salonika Percy's horse was shot from under him.
Also he met his Aunt Elsie Sayles who was nursing in Salonika.

Newspaper report

Derbyshire Courier, 31 May 1919
CRICH, LEA & HOLLOWAY
Corporal Percy Sayles, of the Common, Crich, arrived home on Saturday after being demobilised. He had served with the Derbyshire Yeomanry in Salonika for two years and eight months. It is three years since he left home. During his stay in Salonika he met his aunt, Miss Elsie Sayles. of the Sawmills, Ambergate, who was a V.A.D. nurse at the hospital there. She has now come to Netley Hospital.

Walter Hallam's diary:
He was often mentioned in Walter's 1914 diaries.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Wakebridge, Dunfall, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Joseph F
Sayles
Head 25 Joiner Holloway
Emma A   wife 26   Crich
Percy   son 5   Crich
Ethel   daughter 3
Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 6 page 3

1911: Ridgeway Hospital

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Percy Sayles Patient 15 Grocers assistant Crich
Ethel Sayles Patient 13 School Crich

RG14PN20986 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED15 SN192

1918 Crich voters
Percy Sayles, The Common; absent on military service

1939 Register: Manor Road, South Wingfield
Percy Sayles b.26 September 1895; grocers assistant and traveller
Constance I Sayles b.10 June 1893
one closed record