Major Claude Victor Noble Percival

 

 

Major Claude Victor Noble Percival

 1872-1914

 Dress Tunic, c. 1909

 

 Percival was the son of Major General Lewis Percival, late of the Rifle Brigade. He entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in 1889 and was gazetted to the Rifle Brigade in 1892. Percival became a lieutenant in 1895 and served in British Central Africa in 1899. He earned his captaincy in 1900 and served in Southern Nigeria from 1901 to 1902. From 1905 to 1912, Percival was employed with the Egyptian Army as part of the Soudan Civil Administration. He was promoted to major in 1909 and served as Acting Governor of Halfa Province in 1911. Percival went to France with the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade in November of 1914. On December 14, 1914, he was shot through the heart and killed instantaneously, while superintending a digging party at night near Laventie. Percival was buried in the Tilleloy cemetery.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Charles Shakerley, DSO

 

 

Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Charles Shakerley, DSO

 1869-1915

 Dress Busby, c. 1891

 

 Shakerley attended the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and was gazetted to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on November 29, 1890. He was advanced to lieutenant in 1893. Shakerley obtained his captaincy in December of 1898 and served in the Second Boer War (1899-1902) with the Mounted Infantry. Taking part in operations in Natal and the Orange River Colony, along with the defense of Ladysmith, Shakerley was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Queen’s medal with six clasps. He then served in East Africa (1903-1904), again with the Mounted Infantry, taking part in operations in Somaliland and the action at Jidballi. Shakerley was mentioned in despatches four times in East Africa, severely wounded, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order on September 7, 1904. He was promoted to major with the 1st Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on December 18, 1907. Shakerley arrived with his battalion at Rouen, France, for service on the Western Front in August of 1914. Whilst participating in an attack on the German trenches near La Bassee on May 15, 1915, Shakerley was mortally wounded in the advance. He was laid to rest in the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery. Shakerley was granted the rank of temporary lieutenant colonel in November of 1915 for his sacrifice, with a date of rank of March 28, 1915.