Private Reginald Arthur Peberdy 1st/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment

Leicestershire Regiment Terrier Battns.

Reginald Arthur Peberdy enlisted in Leicester as a private (No.23842) in the 1st/5th Battalion., Leicestershire Regiment – a Territorial battalion. He died of wounds on Thursday 28th June 1917 aged 24.

He was the son of Alfred and Emma Peberdy of St Thomas’s Road, Great Glen.

In 1901 the family lived in Burton Lane, Great Glen and consisted of father Alfred, a signalman on the railway, his wife Emma, their 15 year old daughter Hilda who was employed as a dressmaker, son William aged 13, Reginald, then aged 8, daughter Nora aged 5 and baby Leonard 8 months.

Shoulder Title

Reg went abroad on 29th December 1915 just as the 46th Division, of which his battalion was a part, was ordered to move to Egypt. On 21st January 1916 this order was countermanded and they returned to France. They then moved to the Somme area and were involved in the attack on the Gommecourt Salient in July 1916. Large casualties were suffered. They were then involved in operations on the Ancre in the spring of 1917.

British Trench WW1

It is not certain when Reg was actually wounded but during the period leading up to his death the Battalion moved to Marqueffles Farm on 22nd June 1917. On 23rd they rested and cleaned their weapons and on 24th a Church Parade was held which was attended by the GOC who complimented the Battalion. On 25th/26th training took place and on the evening of the 27th the Battalion moved to the Right Sub-sector. A heavy enemy barrage started at 2.30am on 28th and it was a very noisy night. At 4.00pm on 28th an assaulting force climbed out of the trenches, which were very deep, and lay down in front. At zero hour the force advanced against little opposition other than enemy artillery and machine gun fire. The objective was seized and consolidation commenced. The force suffered casualties during the operation which included Reg Peberdy at some point.

Nouex-les-Mines Communal Cemetery

Reg is buried in the Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, in France. This cemetery was used by the 7th Casualty Clearing Station. Details of how to visit his grave can be found by clicking on to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site link.

Reg's Family Grave

Reg is also commemorated on the family monument in St Cuthbert's churchyard in Great Glen.

Tigers Christmas Card 1917

At some point he may have sent home a regimental Christmas card to a girl in 'Blighty' or to his parents. The 1917 card is shown.

Tigers Trench Art - 18lb Shell

Some men were adept at passing their time in 'Trench Art'. This involved making artistic or utilitarian items out of old shell cases etc. This example is from an 18pdr shell case showing the Tigers badge without the 'Hindoostan' arch as used by Territorial and Service Battalions. Reg was in a Territorial Battalion and would not have had 'Hindoostan' on his cap badge and this jug was actually made by a man from Reg's battalion.

Reg was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal - the 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred ' full set.