Sergeant Percy Geden (1893-1956) was the only one of twelve children of market gardener John Geden, and his wife, Ellen, to be born in Wickhamford. The family lived in Hampton for the 1901 and 1911 censuses and the other children were variously born in Ettington, Wellesbourne, Chipping Campden, Badsey and Hampton.
Percy Geden enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment (Nos 4239 & 202711) on 27th May 1915, becoming an acting unpaid corporal on 10th October that year. He progressed through the non-commissioned officer ranks to lance-sergeant on 23rd March 1916 and acting Sergeant on 11th May. He was originally in the 3/8th Battalion, a depot/training unit but transferred to the 1/8th Battalion and was confirmed as a sergeant upon that unit’s departure for France on 23rd September 1918. Percy Geden was unfortunate in being wounded in action on 9th November, two days before the Armistice. He appears on the 1919 Absent Voters’ List as from Great and Little Hampton. He was discharged on 10th April 1919 and his record states that he had a clean conduct sheet for all of his service. His records mention that, at some time, he was also in the 7th Reserve Battalion.
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and notified the War Office that he was then living in Durham. He married there in 1922 and died there in 1956.