"Alan Percival Skevington was born in Kaikoura, Marlbro, New Zealand on 28th September 1887 the son of Joseph Augustus & Jane Gillies Skevington. He was the husband of Dorothy Emily F.G. Skevington (Nee Harding) of “Arden” Woodford Green, Essex.

His officers’ service book records him as joining the London Regt (Reserve) on 17th July 1909 at age 22.

The 1911 census then declares him as being a Clerk to a chartered accountant and one of a household of six which included a servant, Florence May Cornwall (17) of Suffolk. His father Joseph (60) is shown as being of “Private Means” and his was clearly a wealthy family.

Having been a pre-war reservist and having worked as an accountant at Cox & Co Accountants in Charing Cross, London, he was clearly called up at the start of the Great War with a landing in France with 1/28th London’s on 26th October 1914. He served with this unit until his commission and transfer to The West Yorks Regt.

He obtained an early promotion and was commissioned 2/Lt on 3rd March 1915 into the West Yorks Regt, with promotion to Lt on 28th September 1915, att: 99th M.G.C. 18th September 1916, Captain 24th October 1916, Act/Major 5th March 1918. He was wounded by a shell fragment and gassed in April 1918 and was admitted to No.6 Stationary Hospital B.E.F. at Frevent.

[WORLD WAR TWO]
Served in Africa with The Royal Artillery and later with R.A. 8th (Reserve) Anti Aircraft Battery in U.K.

Having been employed inter-war as a clerk on an Horticultural Estate, he again volunteered for military service and reverted to the ranks at age 52 by relinquishing his commission at his own request on 24th November 1939. He then served in Africa and the U.K. as 1544122 W/BDR Royal Artillery, as an Anti-Aircraft Bombardier in 8th Reserve A.A. (We think stationed at Grimsby & Hull.)

He died in Service 28th July 1944 aged 57 and is buried at Cleethorpes, Lincs. His home address was at Newbourn, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

((**We are now in possession of a copy of Mr Skevington’s death certificate which confirms that he died of a heart attack in Cleethorpes.))" [Source: https://www.medalsofengland.com/medals.php?id=64&medalid=1945, Accessed: 9/05/2022]