A Great War officer casualty group to Lieutenant P.H. Elkin, 2nd Battalion, Welch Regiment, late 15th Civil Service Rifles Battalion, London Regiment, who was hit by a german shell when travelling in Brigadier General Morant's Staff Car on 21st May 1918, and incident which resulted in both officers being wounded, however Elkin later suffered 100% paralysis and died from his wounds on 2nd March 1920.
1914-15 Star; (1360. CPL. P.H. ELKIN, 15-LOND.R.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (LIEUT. P.H. ELKIN.).
Percival Henry Elkin was born in Devonport, and was 17 years and 9 months old when he enlisted into the Civil Service Cadet Corps on 4th December 1911, this unit becoming the 15th Battalion, London Regiment - The Civil Service Rifles. Pre war he worked as a Staff Clerk and His Majesty's Stationary Office, and lived in Acton. At the time of the outbreak of the Great War, Elkin was served in as a Corporal (No.1360), and went to France with the 15th London's on 17th March 1915, being appointed Lance Sergeant on 2nd October 1915, followed by his being commissioned in the field into the 2nd Battalion, Welch Regiment in 1918. Elkin was attached to the Staff at 3rd Brigade Headquarters, part of the 1st Division, where he worked as a Signal Officer. On 21st May 1918 whilst travelling back in a car from an inspection of the 2nd Battalion, Welch Regiment, by Brigadier General Morant, the car was hit by a German shell, with both Morant and Elkin being wounded, Elkin the worse of the two, which though initially did not appear to be serious, resulted in his being 100% paralysed after the operations, and from which he died as a result on 2nd March 1920 whilst at home in Richmond. Elkin's service with the Welsh Regiment, and more particularly his work with the Brigade Staff is mentioned on a number of pages in the book 'The Hungry One' by C.P. Clayton, published in 1978, Elkin being mentioned on pages 173, 178, 189, 192, 212, 214. A copy of the book, and ex-library copy is included with the group
