PC William Percy Alley MM, who was Spratton Village Constable in 1919.
In July 1915 Percy enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He became a Sergeant in 'A' Section of the 103rd Field Ambulance which dealt with casualties from the Somme in July-August 1916, during which six of its own men were killed in action or died of wounds. In 1917 it dealt with casualties from the Arras Offensive and Third Battles of Ypres, and in 1918 with casualties from the Ypres Sector.
Percy was recommended for the Military Medal for his actions around 11 April 1918 in the vicinity of Bailleul in France during the German Operation Georgette, which was part of the Spring Offensive, a desperate time for the British Army, which fell back in disarray with heavy casualties, resulting in the famous ‘Backs to the Wall’ order by Haig.
It is said that he never spoke to his family about his times at the Front and apparently neither did he tell his Police colleagues of his Decoration. Percy returned to policing in February 1919 and became the village Constable in Spratton, then Flore, taking an active part in playing for and running football teams.
Over several days in January 1925 the Northampton Daily Echo newspaper reported his sudden death, aged 39.
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