My grand-uncle was known as Percy. He was born on 17th April 1892 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, the eldest child of Robert William Tate and his wife Emma (nee Stainsby). He attended Chillingham Road school and Skerry’s college in Newcastle and was working as an accounts clerk when he enlisted in the 1st/1 Northumberland Hussars (Territorial Army) on 17th February 1913.
His was the first territorial regiment to be sent overseas, they arrived at Zeebrugge on 5th October 1914. Percy spent almost the whole war in France, with only a handful of days on leave in England each year. He survived many terrible battles in France, including Ypres and the Somme and rose to the rank of Corporal before returning to England to cadet school in December 1917.
He was appointed to a commission in the North Staffordshire Regiment in May 1918 and returned to serve with them in France.
After surviving so much, serving throughout the war, it is so sad that he died within only a few days of the armistice, this was also a tragedy for his fiancée, Cissy Dryden, who always kept a photo of Percy and never married. Later, she worked in a sweet shop.
Percy is buried along with several of his comrades in the quiet little churchyard of Wargnies le Grand (Nord France). I hope to visit his grave soon.
Remembering Percy and Cissy, Jenny
