Percival Moyer

Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
408975
Unit at enlistment: 
37th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
No
Date of death: 
November 6th, 1917
Cemetery: 
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery - Ypres, Belgium - I.I.99.
Commemorated at: 
Colborne Street Methodist Church, Elm Avenue Methodist Church, B.C.I. High School Memorial Plaque, Massey-Harris Memorial Plaque (Toronto)
Birth country: 
Canada
Birth county: 
Brant
Birth city: 
Brantford, Ontario
Address at enlistment: 
Parry Sound, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
282 Darling Street, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Cook
Religious denominations: 
Wesleyan
Marital status: 
Single
Age at enlistment: 
19

Letters and documents

Circumstances of Casualty: Killed in Action.
Location of Unit at Time of Casualty: Frost House West of Zonnebeke.

BX November 19, 1917

Private Percival Moyer Officially Reported Killed in Action

Wilfred Moyer has been officially informed that his son, Private Percival Moyer was killed in action Nov. 6, 1917. Private Moyer enlisted in Parry Sound in September 1915, and went overseas the end of the following November with the 37th Battalion. He was drafted to France on March 17, 1916 with which he served until after the battle of Zillebeke, June 13, 1916. After this battle he was invalided back to England where he was engaged as a batman or orderly in a C.A.M.C.T.S. On June 17 he was transferred to the A.M.C. and served with the 5th field ambulance till his death. No further particulars have yet been received. At the time of his enlisting Mr. and Mrs. W. Moyer resided at Echo Place, but now are living at 282 Darling Street, city. 

BX December 24, 1917

Details of Death of Private Percival Moyer – Was killed at dressing station by a German shell

Details of the death of Private Percival Moyer of the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance have been received by his mother, Mrs. W. Moyer, 282 Darling Street. These show that he was “carrying on” in clearing his station, when a shell landed in the midst of a group of dressers, of whom he was one. Three were killed and two seriously wounded. The details were forwarded by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Paul Kappele, O.C. 5th Canadian Field Ambulance, who paid a high tribute to the deceased hero’s worth in the following letter:

November 20th, 1917
Mrs. W. Moyer
282 Darling St.,
Brantford, Canada

Dear Mrs. Moyer,

I am writing you to extend to you the deep sympathy of the officers and men of the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance on the death in action of your son, Pte. Percy Moyer on the 6th of November.

Your son was one of a party of men who were in charge of an advanced dressing station in a small cement block house which is commonly known as a “pill box.”  There was an officer and about 20 men at this place, whose duty it was to dress the wounded coming through and load them on to the motor ambulances. On account of the small size of the station most of the work had to be done in the open, and on the morning of the 6th the Germans began to shell quite heavily the ground about this station. In order to give the wounded every chance and to hurry them away from this dangerous spot, everyone continued to heroically carry on their work, and almost when they had succeeded in getting the station cleared, a large shell exploded among the dressers, killing three and wounding two others quite seriously. Your son, his sergeant and another man were among the killed, all were killed instantly. Their bodies were immediately put on motor ambulances and removed to headquarters. They were all buried the next day, with officers and men of the ambulance and our military chaplain officiating, in the military cemetery near the prison at Ypres.

I cannot speak in strong enough terms of the heroism and bravery displayed by your son and his comrades on those awful days, and if anything can help to lighten your load of suffering, perhaps the knowledge that he died doing the work of a noble and brave man may help. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy, and if there is anything else I can do please don’t hesitate to command me.

Yours very sincerely,

D.P. Kappele, Lieut.-Col.,
O.C. 5th Canadian Field Ambulance

BX July 4, 1916

Happy In Victory - Private Percival Moyer Tells of Part First Brigade Took in Fight
 
The following letter written by Private Percival Moyer on June 16, to his mother, Mrs. W. Moyer, Echo Place, tells something of the great victory of the 1st Canadian division, in which he figured:
 
June 16, 1916
 
Dear Mother,
 
I am still alive and kicking and quite happy. You will likely hear of the 1st division’s grand work and splendid victory. Well mother, when you read the paper's story of it, think that your boy was there and came back safe and thank God for it. It is something I will never forget and don't think anyone else will, who was there. We stood in water up to the waist with the rain pouring down and the shells creating an awful din. When our shelling lifted we had a drink of rum and then advanced. The boys though wet and muddy, were in good spirits. After we left the trench, in the mud I lost my boot and sock from the right foot, but went forward, and thank God I was able to. We certainly were glad to be relieved next night, wet but happy, as we had taken what others lost. Mud was certainly plentiful, but it was a minor item, so we did not mind, as life and to be alive was all we cared about. Well, hope you are all well. Tell the people I will write to them all, as I lost my kit. I do not know who I have written to and who not.
 
Love to all,

Percy