Percy Oliver Daniels was born on the 18th April 1890 at 28 Stanley Street, Burslem to Edward Daniels born c.1852 and Elizabeth née Allmark born c.1856. They were married at Cobridge Christ Church on the 15th September 1889. Edward Daniels had been married previously to Isabella Robinson in 1874 they had two known children Arthur born 1878 and Elenor born 1880, Isabella died aged 27 in 1882. 

The 1891 Census shows Percy, named Oliver aged 1 year old living with his parents Edward (38) Potters Slip Maker and Elizabeth (34) working in a Pottery Warehouse. They were lodging with his maternal grandparents William Allmark (58) a Potter Placer, Ann Allmark (67) at 28 Stanley Street, Burslem. Also living with them was Arthur Daniels (13) a Potters Pressers Assistant and Emily (Elenor) Daniels (11) two further grandchildren of the Allmarks were Emily Day (19) a Cup Sponger and William O Allmark (10). 

Elizabeth Daniels died in 1897 aged 42. 

The 1901 census sees both Edward Daniels (48) and young Percy Oliver Daniels (9) living at the Wolstanton and Burslem Union Workhouse,Turnhurst Road, Chell, Stoke-on-Trent. The workhouse was built in 1838-9 and eventually demolished in 1993, a hospital was added in 1894. This became Westcliffe Hospital. 

When Percy Oliver Daniels was 16 In 1906 his father Edward Daniels died. 

We next see Percy in the 1911 Census when he is living at 79 Reid Street, Burslem. He is now married to Betsy Née Green  born c.1889 Burslem. Percy is a 21 year old Assistant Potters Miller. They have been married a year and sadly have had one child that died. Betsy is 21 and employed as a Potters Transferrer.

Percy and Betsy were married in 1910 at St Johns Church, Burslem. Then we do see from Army Pension cards that they went on to have 3 children Percy Daniels born 19th April 1912, Edward Daniels born 2nd November 1913 and Frank Daniels born 30th December 1915.

We have struggled to piece together Percy’s early military career. We do see newspaper articles of the time which help to fill some gaps. It appears that according to the Staffordshire Sentinel of the 8th April 1915 a new list of recruits is mentioned of which Percy being one of them. He would soon find himself at the front and in the thick of the action having landed in France on the 28th June 1915. His war was very short lived as on the 13th October 1915 he was killed during the attacks on the German Hoenzollern Redoubt. A fierce battle in the Loos sector. The battalion war diary tells us that they were in front line positions on the day Percy was killed but it provides nothing to indicate how. It does tell us that during the period 8th October 1915 to 15th October 1915 the battalion suffered 66 other ranks killed, 223 wounded and 196 missing. 

Newspapers show us he was initially reported missing but subsequently confirmed dead and that he was formerly an employee of Royal Doulton, Burslem. A report in the Staffordshire Sentinel of the 18th December 1915 also carried a photograph of Percy in uniform.

Pte. P. O. DANIELS 

MISSING.

PTE. P. O. DANIELS, BURSLEM.

Mrs. B. Daniels, 134, Furlong-Lane, Burslem. has received official notification that her husband, Pte. P. O. Daniels, 4264, 1st-5th North Staffordshire Regiment, has been missing since the 13th of October. Previous to joining the colours he was employed by Messrs. Doulton and Co., Ltd., Burslem.

Sentinel Newspaper dated January 6th 1916 

PTE. P. O. DANIELS, BURSLEM.

Information has been received by Mrs. Betsy Daniels, of 134 Furlong-Lane, Burslem, that her husband, Pte, P. 0. Daniels, 4264, 1st-5th North Staffordshire Regiment, previously reported missing, was killed in action on October 13th. He was 25 years of age, and leaves a widow and three children. He enlisted in April last.

Betsy was awarded a dependants weekly pension of 20 shillings and 6 pennies.

Percy earned the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial panel 103-105 as well as the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

The 1921 census sees widowed Betsy Daniels living with her parents Frances Green (57) Transport worker, Betsy (56) brothers Edward (25) Coal Hewer, Frank (19) Coal Hewer and sons Percy (9) Edward (7) and Frank (5) at 6 Dimsdale Street Burslem. 

Betsy Daniels remarried John William Morris in 1921 and on the 30th July 1935 she died aged 46 

In 1936 Percy Daniels married Edith A Walton, sadly she died aged 25 in 1939, the 1939 register sees him widowed living at 42 Russell Street Newcastle under lyme working as General Brickworks Labourer. 

In 1936 Frank Daniels married Beatrice Sherwin, in the 1939 register they were living at 41 Edge Street, Burslem, Frank was working as a Shop Assistant Carpet Department, in 1939 they had a son. 

In 1936 Edward Daniels married Lillian Clarke and in 1939 they were living 13 St Mary's Road, Longton, Staffordshire. Edward was working as a Lorry Driver. 

Arthur Thomas Daniels, Percys older step brother born 21.02 1878, served during WW1 as 18066 Pte of the East Yorkshire Regiment. He had enlisted on the 28th August 1914 and was discharged due to age on 31st October 1916. He entered France on the 8th May 1915 therefore he was entitled to the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and he was awarded the Silver War Badge number 317392.       

SOURCES

• Edward Daniels Isabella Robinson marriage https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=RhKMy%2FWFWLGrJGWbRKVb%2Fg&scan=1
• Isabella Robinson death https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=c6rb%2BGJBEQGypfIFV59eAQ&scan=1
• Edward Daniels Elizabeth Allmark marriage https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=er2c1JAvWp%2F8e1V5iH2how&scan=1
• FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
• Percy Oliver Daniels birth https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=E4CXoP9et%2BKU3qPUFZXYVg&scan=1
• FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. 
• National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 233501-235000; Reference: 108 
• Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
• Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 058/0241/Dan-D'a
• Ancestry.com. Global, Find a Grave® Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. 
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/record/735460137/daniels-percy-oliver-uk-soldiers-died-in-the-great-war-1914-1919 
• 1891 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2162; Folio: 104; Page: 33; GSU roll: 6097272
• 1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2589; Folio: 128; Page: 15
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12629, ED 15, Sch 101; Book: 12629 
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD (BETSY GREEN BIRTH) BUR/100/039
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19150408/060/0002 
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19160106/084/0004
• https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/730934/percy-oliver-daniels/