Shrapnel souvenirs of Oxford soldier's time in trenches (From Oxford Mail)

Shrapnel souvenirs of Oxford soldier's time in trenches

10:00am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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THE Willmot family have treasured mementos from their grandfather’s Army career – two pieces of shrapnel.

Percy William Willmot served for four years with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in France during the First World War.

He was just 16 when he enlisted with the 1/4th (Territorial Army) Battalion in 1914. The minimum age to join up was supposed to be 18 but recruiting officers often turned a blind eye.

He spoke little of his military career and relatives have so far been unable to uncover full details of his war service. But it is known that he saw action in the Pozieres area on the Somme.

There is some evidence that he was wounded and later returned to the front to rejoin his colleagues in battle.

What is certain is that he was wounded towards the end of the war in 1918, shipped back to England and, during treatment, shrapnel was removed from his back. He was invalided out of the military, but kept the metal fragments as souvenirs of his war.

Following his death at the age of 80, they have now been handed down, with his medals, to members of his family.

Mr Willmot was born in Pembroke Street, East Oxford (now Rectory Road) in 1898.

After the war, he trained as a cabinet maker, working first for Minty’s, the famous Oxford furniture company, and later Pressed Steel.

He was also a member of the East Oxford Liberal Club.

His family have sent in these photographs of their grandfather and his comrades in France.

The pictures were on the back of postcards which he sent to his mother in Oxford.

Does anyone recognise any of the other soldiers?