PERCY Overend’s parents did not live long enough to learn of his death during a failed assault on enemy lines.

The Sutton man’s father Heaton died when he was a toddler and his mother Mary Ann passed away in 1917 at the age of 62.

In that same year Percy, 22, then a carrier and horseman at Sir John C Horsfall and C Sons, enlisted in the army in Cross Hills.

The following summer found him at Arras, France, preparing for a joint attack by his own West Riding Regiment and a contingent of Canadians.

According to the 2nd Battalion war diary for August 30, the men went forward “magnificently” to gain the final objective, but due to weak flanks were forced to fall back.

That first day’s fighting saw five officers and 36 other ranks killed, and another 162 wounded.

The following day saw an unsuccessful afternoon attack then a night-time advance by the men “in splendid form carrying everything before them” to capture Stipe Copse.

Three officers and 74 other ranks, including Private Overend, were killed.

The war diary concludes: “This attack was successful, but owing to our depleted numbers, a heavy counter-attack preceded by a violent bombardment drove the men out of the copse, and our patrols withdrew fighting.”