Second Lieutenant Percy Braidford, MC, 3rd Durham Light Infantry was killed in action on September 21, 1917. He was one of six brothers- all of whom were educated at St Bees and the second to make the supreme sacrifice. He was known to most of his generation and their successors as perhaps the best back St Bees has turned out, and of whom outside judges foretold International honours in the future. He was in the School XV for three years, and captained it in 1913, in which year he obtained his county cap, both Durham and Cumberland being anxious for his services, but he elected to play for the latter. He was also in the Cricket XI, and prominent in the Sports. At the outbreak of the war he joined the Public Schools Battalion and served several months in France. Afterwards he received a commission in the 3rd Durham Light Infantry and returned to the Front in September 1916, and won the Military Cross during the fighting at Easter, 1917. But for the fact of his company being short of officers he would not have been in the fighting line on September 21, as he had been selected by the Colonel as Intelligence Officer at Headquarters, but remained behind for an additional tour, and with his servant was killed by the only bomb which came into the trench during that tour. (This is from St Bees School Roll Of Honour Book).

Elizabeth Wood