Percy George Gatehouse

Story:
Percy George Gatehouse was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8 Sep 1886 the son of James Howe Gatehouse and Mary Gatehouse (nee Farmer).  He lived his early life at Ivy Cross, Shaftesbury, until the family move to Milton on Stour, Gillingham, Dorset, and later to Peasemarsh, Gillingham.  Percy had enlisted with the 12th (The Prince of Wales's Royal) Lancers as a Private (Service No. L/5940).  He was later promoted to Lance Corporal and transferred to the Corps of Lancers (Service No. L/13022).   He served in France and Flanders from 15 Aug 1914 and at some time was reported to be an 'unofficial' Prisoner of War being held in Germany per a Red Cross report at the time.  He was discharged on 21 Sep 1919 but apparently re-enlisted immediately with Service No. L/19695.  He had been awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  He had married Florence Mabel Janes at the Parish Church, Gillingham, on 10 Apr 1917.  By the 1921 Census he had obviously left the Army and was living in The Wyke, Gillingham, Dorset, working as a Railway Delivery Agent's Carman. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Wavering Lane, Wyke, Gillingham, working as a General Labourer.  He died in Gillingham in 1982 and was buried there on 21 Apr 1982.  Four of his brothers, Charles Howe, Sidney Herbert, Ernest Edward and Thomas William, all served and survived the conflict whilst his nephew, Victor Stokes, who lived with the family, died.  The remaining brother, Walter John, is purported to have served but no reliable military record can be found.