County Herald, September 5, 1916

Mrs. Messham, of Drury, has received the sad news that her husband has been killed in action. The letter from the chaplain states that Lance-Corporal Messham was killed instantly by a sniper's bullet.

The deceased soldier was 37 years of age, and leaves a widow and four children. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Messham of Dobshill, near Hawarden for whom great sympathy is expressed. He enlisted in July, 1915, while he might have been exempted, for he was employed at the Mountain Colliery of Messrs. Geo Watkinson and Sons, Ltd., and he underwent an operation for varicose veins in order that he might be accepted.

North Wales Coast Pioneer, September 14th 1916 LANCE-CORPORAL P. MESSHAM, PENYMYNYDD (KILLED)

Mrs. P. Messham, of Penymynydd, has received intimation that her husband, Lance-Corporal Percy Messham, was killed in action on August 23rd. He belonged to the R.W.F. He and his chum, Private Sam Wilcock, whose death was announced last week, joined together and went out together. Their homes are next to each other, and both worked prior to joining the Army at the Mountain Colliery, Buckley. Lance-Corporal Messham was 36 years of age, and leaves a widow and four children. The deceased's chaplain (Rev. R.C. Jones) in the course of a sympathetic letter to Mrs. Messham, says:- "He was killed by a sniper's bullet while in the trenches on August 23rd inst. He was buried the following day in the large British cemetery near Ypres. I officiated at the funeral, and there were a few men of the battalion present. A small cross will be fixed on the grave, and I hope a photo of the grave will be sent to you as soon as circumstances permit.

Please accept my deepest sympathy with you in your deep sorrow, and in the loss you have sustained."