Soldier’s Death
at Boundary Park Hospital
The first group of wounded soldiers arrived at Boundary
Park Military Hospital on 13 July 1916 and were placed
in Infirmary buildings blocks D & E. Amongst this
first group of 66 men was Private Arthur Percival of
the 10th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. A coal
miner by trade Arthur Percival enlisted in the York
and Lancaster Regiment on 13 January 1915 and arrived
in France on 12 October 1915. He was wounded on the
1st July during the attack on Fricourt.
Amongst his surviving service record
is a synopsis of his treatment at the Hospital:
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Boundary Park Military Hospital,
Oldham
No. 18371. Private Arthur Percival, aged 33 years,
10th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment, “C”
Company, Serial No, F. J. 317
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13th July, 1916. Admitted with
Machine Gun Bullet Wound in left left: path of entry
– outer side just in front of fibula, path
of exit, inner side of leg just behind tibia: large
swelling over … calf. Eusol dressing and packaging
applied.
18th July, 1916. Swelling fluctuating: Wound opened
up under chloroform. Blood clot evacuated: gauze
packing, soaked in eusol applied.
19th July, 1916. Secondary haemorrhage occurred:
packed with gauze soaked in eusol.
22nd July, 1916. Secondary haemorrhage again occurred
and again packing of gauze, soaked in eusol, applied.
23rd July, 1916. Gas gangrene developed in region
of calf extending from knee to near ankle: skin
discoloured: deep crepitations all over affected
area. Circular amputation under chloroform through
middle of thigh without flaps or any attempt at
closure. Eusol dressing applied. Patient recovered
consciousness but died two hours after.
Robert P Barker
Medical Officer in Charge
26th July 1916
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The Oldham Chronicle of 17 July 1916 carried
a report of his death and subsequent funeral arrangements:
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This (Thursday) afternoon the body
of one of the heroes of the big advance who had
died from his wounds in the Boundary Park Military
hospital, Oldham, was conveyed to his home at Sheffield,
where he will be interred on Saturday. His name
is Private Arthur Percival (18371) aged 33 years,
of the York and Lancaster Regiment, who died on
Sunday. He was admitted to the hospital on July
13th suffering from machine gun bullet wounds in
the left leg. His home is at 33 Tannery Street,
Woodhouses, Sheffield, and he had been in the army
19 months, nine of which have been spent in France.
The body was enclosed in a coffin, and drawn in
a hearse supplied by Messrs R H Coop and Sons, Yorkshire
Street, and left the hospital shortly before one
o’clock. Walking in procession to Clegg Street
Station were about 100 wounded comrades of the deceased.
On the coffin were beautiful floral tributes from
the men at the hospital and from the officials.
At Clegg Street Station the coffin was reverently
placed in the two o’clock train, and at Woodhouses
Junction it was to be taken out and to the home
of deceased’s parents.
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Arthur Percival is buried at Sheffield (Woodhouse)
cemetery.
Courtesy Local Studies &
Archives, Oldham
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