Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Percival Cyril Channing -

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, July 2, 1915 Page 5

Interesting Letter from a Ventnor Man at the Front

Writing home to his father, Sergt. Percy Channing, who is in the Royal Garrison Artillery with the Indian Expeditionary Force in the Persian Gulf, pays a great tribute to the work of the Territorials. He says: - "I am proud to say our No. 1 gun was the first to fire in the action. Sergt. Arthur Honeybourne's (another Ventnor man and an old schoolfellow of the writer's) was second. It was a fine sight. All our guns were laid on the enemy's position, and the first gun was the signal for the others to open fire. The gunboats and all were in it. Our infantry went up in boats. We only had 12 casualties. Cannot say how many of the enemy went west, but hundreds were captured and a terrible lot killed. Even when we brought the prisoners in they still had their hands over their ears, so awful had been the bombardment. Just tell some of those fools at home who want an extra penny an hour, it is ammunition that wins a fight. If we had not had the ammunition in this fight, our infantry must have been wiped out. We are driving the Turks up the river. We hear they have already retired 60 miles in two days. We also sank a gunboat of their's above here, and nine guns have been captured. I was with A. Honeybourne and Francis Hess last night. The Terriers made a name for themselves in this fight. Their shooting was a credit to any regular battery. Everybody is talking about it, and you can tell them at Ventnor that the work of the battery has made a great impression here. The heat here is terrible - 114 degrees in the shade. Just fancy fighting in this temperature!" Honeybourne, Hess ^[*], E. Wright and W.R. Langdon were among those who volunteered from the 4th Hants (Ventnor) Battery for active service in the Persian Gulf.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, April 7, 1916 Page 4
Sergt. Percy Channing (son of Mr. W. Channing, of Ventnor), who is in the R.G.A., was mentioned in the Mesopotamia list of the dispatches on Thursday. Sergt. Channing has been in India 12 years.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, June 2, 1916 Page 1

Mr. W. Channing, of Ventnor, has heard from the War Office that his son, Sergeant Percival Channing, of the 86th Heavy Battery, R.G.A., is presumed to be a prisoner of war after the engagement with the Turks on 29th April.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, April 6, 1917 Page 5

News has been received that Sergt. Percy Channing, 86th Heavy Battery, R.G.A., died at Kut as long ago as May 6th, 1916. Sergt. Channing was the son of Mr. W. Channing and was a native of Ventnor. He went through the siege of Kut and was mentioned in despatches. Sergt. Channing joined the Army about 14 years ago. He was 30 years of age. The greatest sympathy will be felt with the family in the loss of such a promising young soldier.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, April 5, 1918 Page 1

News has been received that Sergt. Oscar Channing, son of Mr. W. Channing, Ventnor, has been wounded in the recent battles. He is in the R.F.A. and will be remembered as the Captain of the Football Club. Sergt. Channing has been in France about two years. He is in hospital at one of the bases.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, May 3, 1918 Page 2

IN MEMORIAM
CHANNING. - In loving memory of Sergt. Percival Cyril Channing, 86 H.B., R.G.A., taken prisoner with General Townsend at the surrender of Kut, April 29. Died at Samarra on May 6, 1916. - From father, brothers and sisters.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, September 27, 1918 Page 3

MARRIAGE. - The wedding of Pte. John Richard Hall, of the 4th Australian Postal Corps, eldest son of Sergt.-Major Hall of Western Australia, a former instructor of the 5th Hants Artillery at Ventnor, and Miss Stella Mary Channing, third daughter of Mr. William Channing, of Penbury, Dudley Road, took place St. Wilfrid's Church on Thursday. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. A. Steggall, assisted by the Rev. Father Scantlebury. The bride's dress was of cream silk alpaca, with veil and real orange blossom from Palestine. She was given away by Mr. F.W. Channing, eldest brother. There were two bridesmaids, Miss Carrie Channing, sister of the bride, and Miss D. Barry, cousin of the bridegroom. The best man was Mr. Charles Whelan, cousin of the bridegroom. There was a large congregation of relatives and friends, and wounded soldiers from the Bonchurch Convalescent Home formed a guard of honour outside the Church. The bridegroom has seen considerable service in Egypt and on the Western Front and it is interesting to recall that the newly married couple are old scholars of St. Wilfrid's School. The presents were numerous and useful.