Sunday 12 October 2014

Percy Haselden The Liverpool Poet (1895 - 1916) - NB UPDATE this is not the poet - please see post on Forgotten Poets of the First World War April 2023

I have received the following information from Historian Deborah Cameron:

Percy Haselden was born in Toxteth, Liverpool and his birth was registered in the September quarter of 1895.

Percy joined the Kings Liverpool Regiment and was killed on 30th July 1916 in Flanders.  He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, Picardie, France.

Percy's poems were published by Erskine Macdonald in 1917 under the title "In the wake of the Sword".  His poem "Searchlights on the Mersey" was published in "The Fiery Cross: an Anthology" edited by Mabel C. Edwards and Mary Booth and published by Grant Richards in 1915.  

With many thanks to Deborah for her kind help.

If anyone knows anything more about Percy or if they have a photograph of him, please get in touch.

Update on 22nd April 2023.  I just received a message from Linda Michelini :

"I am helping to research soldiers from the Liverpool Pals battalions who 
fell during WW1. Googling Percy Haselden's name I came across multiple 
sites, including yours, which hold incorrect information.

The Percy Haselden who was born in Liverpool in 1895 and killed on 
30/7/1916 was not the poet. We have his biography here -
http://liverpoolpals.com/soldier/?i=1064/23947-Pte-percy-haselden

The war poet Percy Haselden was born Percy Haselden Evans in Liscard on the Wirral Peninsula in the early months of 1887 and was baptised on 27th March 1887.  Percy’s parents were William Parry Evans, a cotton broker, and his wife, Matilda, nee Haselden, who were married in 1884.  

I thought you would appreciate being able to correct your profile of the 
WW1 poet.
Regards,
Linda Michelini

Regards,
Linda Michelini 

I hve now placed an entry on the weblog Forgotten Poets of the First World War about the
Merseyside poet born Percy Haselden Evans, who used the pen name Percy Haselden before changing his name by Deed Poll in 1929.