Lieutenant-Colonel Joss Percy
9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

To my distaste now, Montgomery sacked Joss Percy. Joss Percy declined any other posting as said ‘I’m going home.’ On the way home on a troop ship, he died of a broken heart. And the Durhams who were there will always say, that was the loss of a very gallant battalion and brigade commander. Certainly, I blame Montgomery.

(William Henry Partridge, IWM interview, 20 Apr 2001)

Born in Western Australia, on 10 October 1897, Joscelyn Edward Seymour Percy served with the Durham Light Infantry during the First World War. He earned the Military Cross in 1917: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his men with great determination and himself killed two of the enemy. Later, although severely wounded, he remained in the enemy’s trenches until the last man of his party had withdrawn.” Twenty-three years later, Percy took command of the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry during the battle of France in June 1940.

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