Percy Robert Smith Besford was born on 1st March 1914, and his birth was registered at Mutford, the district that covered Lowestoft. The birth index gives his mother’s maiden name as Besford, which usually means that his mother was not married and Percy was registered under her surname.
In the summer of 1938 Percy married Wanda A. Timmis. The marriage was registered in Lothingland, the district that by then covered Lowestoft. The births of three children were registered there with the mother’s maiden name Timmis: Robert C. S. Besford (1939), Paul W. Besford (1941), who died as a baby, and William P. Besford (1947).
The 1944 King’s Birthday Honours, celebrating the official birthday of King George VI, were announced on 2nd June 1944.
Skipper Percy Robert Smith Besford, RNR, 3475 W.S. (Lowestoft) was Mentioned in Despatches.
In the honours system, being mentioned in despatches is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks for an act (or acts) of bravery during active operations. It means that the person did something that had warranted their name to be included in an official account written by a superior officer, which had then been sent on to the War Office.
Percy died in 1978, aged 64. His death was registered in the Blyth district of Suffolk in July to September 1978.
Records not yet confirmed
Percy’s third name, Smith, was also carried by Arnott Herbert Smith Besford (1901–1964), and appears in the initial S of Flora Hannah S. Besford (1897) and Hilda Rose S. Besford (1899), whose births were also registered at Mutford and who appear to be Arnott’s sisters. Percy’s mother may have been Flora or Hilda. Please get in touch if you can help.