Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph and Louisa Stabler of Scarborough, Yorks., and the husband of Florence Stabler. The citation in the London Gazette for 26th January 1918 reads:- “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in charge of a party working on a light railway under heavy fire. He showed great coolness and initiative in directing the work and encouraging his men under heavy fire, particularly in handling, under very dangerous conditions, a truck load of ammunition which had become derailed. He set an excellent example to the men.” The War Diary entry for the 28th march 1918 records. RYVELD. At 8.30am Commenced training, reorganising and re equipping of the Battalion. Draft of 40 other ranks arrived from III Corps CYCLISTS Battalion. 1 other rank to hospital sick. Flight Lt. N. F. CONNER U.S.M.R. returned from leave and Lt. DAMBROCUS rejoined Field Ambulance.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 26th, 1917

COALVILLE SOLDIER WINS D.C.M.

The ‘London Gazette” published on Monday contained the names of nearly 700 warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men to whom the King has been pleased to award the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and among them is Company Sergeant-Major Percy Stabler, of the Leicestershire Regiment, whose wife and child reside at Highfields Street, Coalville. Before the war, Sergeant-Major Stabler was the manager of Messrs. Worthington’s branch grocery stores at Coalville. He joined the Leicester Pioneers soon after hostilities commenced. The gallant officer will receive the congratulations of many friends.

Coalville Times article - Friday December 7th, 1917.

UNLOADED AMMUNITION WAGGON UNDER FIRE

A COALVILLE D.C.M.

At the Glen Parva Barracks on Monday afternoon, Company-Sergeant-Major Percy Stabler, of the Midland Pioneers, received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which was awarded to him a few weeks ago for gallantry in France.

Sergt-Major Stabler volunteered for service early in the war and joined the Leicester Pioneers. He has been many months on active service on the Western Front, in the neighbourhood of Ypres, and won the medal by organising a small party of about a dozen men to unload an ammunition waggon which had become derailed and was being heavily shelled by the enemy. Though under fire all the time, they succeeded in unloading the waggons and thus saving many thousands of rounds of ammunition. It was not until notice of the award had appeared in the “Coalville Times” that the gallant officer was aware that the honour had been conferred upon him.

Before the war, Sergeant-Major Stabler was manager of Worthington’s branch shop in High Street, Coalville. His wife and child reside at Highfields Street, Coalville, and he was spending a few days’ leave with them when he was summoned to Wigston Barracks on Monday afternoon to receive the medal. He returned to France the following day, taking with him the good wishes of many friends.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 8th, 1918

COALVILLE D.C.M.

The following is the official account of the deed for which Company-Sergeant-Major Percy Stabler, of the Leicestershire Regiment, was awarded the D.C.M. in October last.

“For conspicuous gallantry, and devotion to duty while in charge of a party working on light railway under heavy fire. He showed great coolness and initiative in directing the work and encouraging his men under heavy fire, particularly in handling, under very dangerous conditions, a truck load of ammunition which had become derailed. He set an excellent example to his men.”

Sergeant-Major Stabler, before the war, was manager of Worthington’s grocery shop at Coalville, and his wife and boy reside in Highfields Street. He volunteered for service early in the war, joining the Leicester Pioneers.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 5rh, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

News has been received that Company-Sergeant-Major Percy Stabler, D.C.M. of the 11th Leicesters, died in hospital in France on March 25th from gunshot wounds in the chest received on March 22nd, the second day of the German great push. He leaves a widow and one child residing in Highfields Street, Coalville. Before the war, he was manager of Worthington’s grocery shop at Coalville. He volunteered for service, first joining the Leicester Pioneers and had seen a good deal of active service. He was awarded the D.C.M. for superintending the unloading of an ammunition wagon which had become derailed while under heavy fire and received the medal when at home on leave a few months ago.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 12th, 1918.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening, a memorial service for the late Mr G. Piper and C.S.M. P. Stabler, was held in St. James’s Church, Snibstone conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. F. W. Atkins. Both the deceased were formerly connected with the church, Mr Piper, at the time of his death being a sidesman and Sunday School teacher. The local Volunteer Corps to which both formerly belonged, were present, Lieut. C. E. Crane being in command. There was a large congregation.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 12th, 1918.

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Lieutenant Humphrey Halgrim Grundtvig, M.C. Leicestershire Regiment, who died of wounds on March 22nd, was the only son of Mr and Mrs Herbert T. Grundtvig, of Maidstone House, Epsom, where he was born in July, 1896. He was awarded the Military Cross in the 1918 New Year’s Honours List for his conduct when a truck of ammunition on a light railway was derailed and set on fire by a shell, blocking the line. He and Company-Sergeant Major P. Stabler, who received the D.C.M. quietly collected a few men, and unloaded the truck under great personal danger.

THANKS

Mrs Stabler and Eddie thank their numerous friends for kindness and sympathy shown to them in their great trouble in the loss of a devoted husband and father.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 26th, 1918

LOCAL CHIT CHAT

Private V. E. Beard, of Coalville, writes that he is recovering from the effects of gas, and is now in a convalescent depot, where everything is in the patient’s favour, as the officers and sisters do their best to give the men a good time while under their care. He says how very sorry he was to read in the “Coalville Times” of the death of C.S.M. Stabler, D.C.M. adding, “Being company accountant, we were often thrown closely together, and when I return to my battalion, I shall feel his loss acutely. He was a good friend to me in every way.”

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 24/12/2017