Interesting Gravestones in the Churchyard #4- WALLIS
This is another one of the interesting gravestones which we have found in the Prescot St Mary’s Churchyard.
The subject of this fourth gravestone in the series is that of Percy Wallis. It’s not a particularly old gravestone. It is, in fact, two related gravestones which is unusual and it does make a very compelling story for the series.
It relates to Percival Frederick Wallis who was actually born at Saltash, Cornwall in 1887. Percy, as he was generally known, joined the Royal Navy in 1903, following in his father’s footsteps. In the 1911 Census he was aboard HMS Surprise as “Ship’s Cook”.
His service continued throughout WW1 and until February 1919 when he was discharged and listed as “Officer’s Steward”, HMS Vivid which was the name given to the shore base of the Royal Navy in Plymouth. He was discharged to hospital suffering from tuberculosis and died on the 25th March 1919 at Eccleston Hall Sanatorium, aged 31.
It is thought that his family, who were now living in Old Lane, Eccleston, wished him to be buried close to where he died and Percy’s funeral was at St Mary’s Church on the 29th March 1919. His burial is recorded in the church register but there is no record of the location of his grave.
Having acknowledged that his WW1 service had contributed to the cause of his death, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) elected to place one of their memorial stones, dedicated to Percy, in the Churchyard. Many will have noticed the three white CWGC stones on the left-hand side as you walk down from the church. Percy’s is one of them.
It was placed at this location in 1986 and, at the head of the stone, the Inscription reads; “BURIED ELSEWHERE IN THIS CHURCHYARD”.
The Friends of Prescot Cemetery and Churchyard was formed in 2013 and one of the priorities was to tackle the neglected site which was in a greatly overgrown state with many of the gravestones inaccessible. In the early days of the task, while cutting back shrubs and clearing vegetation along the Garden Walk boundary wall, a previously unknown grave was revealed…….. it was the original burial place of Percival Frederick Wallis!
The grave can be found in Section 4 of the Churchyard. It has been identified for our layout plan as 4-N20, that is vertical row N, horizontal line 20. It is a short distance down section 4 immediately adjacent to the Garden Walk boundary wall.
With acknowledgement of the Prescot Roll of Honour and the remarkable work of the late Stephen Nulty from which some of the details included in this article have been obtained (click on the green button, below).
