Warrant Officer Class 2 Percival J Moss

Percival John 'Jack' Moss enlisted in 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment as a 16 year old in April 1930.

He served in India from October 1930 to March 1932 and then in China from March 1932 until March 1933. He returned to the UK and served at the Depot in Preston until 1937, when he was posted back to the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment.

‘Jack’ Moss was evacuated from Dunkirk with the 1st Bn East Lancashire Regiment on 2 June 1940. Promoted to WO2 he was posted to the newly formed 7th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment in July 1940 until 1942 when he returned to the 1st Battalion.

He volunteered for airborne forces and was posted to 'B' Company, 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion. Company Sergeant Major Moss attended Parachute Training Course No 89 at RAF Ringway which ran from 28 October to 9 November 1943. There were 281 trainees on the course from various units and between them they completed 2077 descents. His course report reads ‘CSM Moss:-Excellent in every way’

CSM Moss served in the Normandy Campaign and was awarded a Commander in Chief's Certificate for his service with the Battalion in Normandy.

He took part in the Ardennes campaign and was severely wounded during the Battle of Bure on 3 January 1945, when A Company encountered heavy artillery and mortar fire at the start of the engagement and suffered numerous casualties. Major Jack Watson, with magnificent leadership, led A Coy in the assault into the village, against German infantry and armour. At the same time B Company advanced along high ground on the right flank, where it came under very heavy fire from artillery, self-propelled guns, tanks and infantry.

B Coy suffered heavy casualties, one of whom was Company Sergeant Major Moss who died of the wounds he sustained on 4 January 1945, aged 29 years old. He is now buried at the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium.