A SOLDIER from Berkeley, who was killed during the First World War whilst fetching water for his friends, will be honoured at a ceremony.

Private Percy Whithorn, who lived in Woodford and worked on the Berkeley estate, died on November 3, 1916 in Salonica, part of modern Greece.

As he was a bell ringer at All Saints church in nearby Stone, Pte Whithorn will be the commemorated by members of the Wotton Branch Bell Ringers there 100 years to the day of his death.

Percy John Whithorn was born in 1894 and married Charlotte, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Savage from Sharpness, gaining a stepson, Ronald.

In September 1914 they had a daughter Evelyn and two years later another daughter, Diana.

Pte Whithorn was posted to the 11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment and in late August 1916 was sent to Salonica to re-inforce the 9th Gloucesters – re-uniting with his friends Richard and Robert Gwinnell of Berkeley.

His death was described by Robert Gwinnell, who was with him at the time, in 1995.

They were both part of a 15-man patrol sent out to occupy the ruined village of Doldzeli on the night of November 2, 1916.

The group was ordered to maintain its positions and forbidden by their officer to go out for water despite it being much-needed.

Despite this, Pte Whithorn gathered his friends’ bottles and went out to fill them from a stream in no man’s land. He was returning when he was seen and shot down. 

His friends brought his body back that night to be buried nearby, with full honours. He was relocated after the war and lies in Karasouli Military Cemetery.

Two years later his wife Charlotte died after contracting Spanish Influenza. The orphaned children were split up, with Ronald being cared for within the Savage family and Evelyn and Diana cared for in the Muller Home orphanage in Bristol. 

Pte Whithorn and his wife now have several grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and many of them will gather in Stone for the commemoration event. 

Wotton Branch Bell Ringers are marking the deaths of all Gloucestershire bell ringers who died during the Great War on the 100th anniversary of their deaths.