Percy was born in Faversham, Kent on 9th September 1878 to parents George and (Mary) Agnes, their first of seven children. He was baptised on 27th October 1878 and was next mentioned on the 1881 census; the family were living at 3 Westgate Street, Faversham and Percy had a new baby brother, Harold, aged 1 month.
Ten years later on the 1891 census, Percy was 12 years old, now with 4 siblings, all residing in the parish of Whitfield, Kent.
Percy joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 20th September 1893, leaving his previous employment as a milk boy. He was initially 5'1" tall, growing to 5'8" with light brown hair and blue/grey eyes.
He trained at HMS IMPREGNABLE until 29/11/1894, rising to Boy 1st Class on 27/9/1894.
His career follows:-
BOSCAWEN - 30/11/1894 - 05/03/1895
AUSTRALIA - 06/03/1895 - 03/06/1895
EXCELLENT - 04/06/1895 - 15/10/1895
ACTIVE - 16/10/1895 - 26/05/1896
VICTORY I - 27/05/1896 - 02/06/1896
VERNON - 03/06/1896 - 20/07/1896
EDINBURGH - 21/07/1896 - 21/09/1897, rising to Ordinary Seaman on his 18th Birthday, 9th September 1896.
RODNEY - 22/09/1897 - 02/11/1897
ROYAL ARTHUR - 03/11/1897 - 15/11/1897
VICTORY - 16/11/1897 - 09/05/1898
HANNIBAL - 10/05/1898 - 26/05/1898
VICTORY I - 27/05/1898 - 03/06/1898
HANNIBAL - 04/06/1898 - 10/01/1899, rising to Able Seaman on 26/10/1898
VICTORY I - 11/01/1899 - 31/03/1899
DUKE OF WELLINGTON - 01/04/1899 - 29/05/1899
EXCELLENT - 30/05/1899 - 24/03/1900
VERNON - 25/03/1900 - 26/01/1901
PEMBROKE - 27/01/1901 - 13/03/1901
RATTLER - 14/02/1901 - 18/09/1903, rising to Leading Seaman on 14/05/1902
WILDFIRE - 19/09/1903 - 13/08/1906, rising to Petty Officer 1st Class on 13/10/1903
PEMBROKE - 14/08/1906 - 12/11/1906
PRESIDENT - 13/11/1906 - 05/05/1907
PEMBROKE I - 06/05/1907 - 10/11/1907
ADVENTURE - 11/11/1907 - 09/05/1909
PEMBROKE I - 10/08/1909 - 05/11/1909, it was while being stationed at Chatham that he was initiated as a Freemason on 19th July 1909.
GANGES - 06/11/1909 - 12/09/1913, rising to Petty Officer on 01/06/1910. Percy was stationed at the Shotley Establishment during the 1911 census.
PEMBROKE I - 13/09/1913 - 30/03/1914
VANGUARD - 31/03/1914 - 09/07/1917, rising to Acting Chief Petty Officer on 01/08/1915 and Chief Petty Officer on 01/08/1916.
It was serving aboard HMS RATTLER that earned Percy the Queens South Africa Medal (see image 2), as well as receiving his Long Service Good Conduct medal for his continuous service . He served aboard HMS VANGUARD during the Battle of Jutland and was reported to have been in the trenches in Flanders for observational purposes on behalf of the ship's company.
His pension was awarded to his father following his death, his Star, Victory and British medals were returned to the Ministry of Defence on 18th April 1922, but reissued to the Universal Legatee mentioned in his will.
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Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
1881, 1891, 1901 & 1911 England Census
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Membership Registers: Country AA 2674-2810 to Country BB 2811-2927; Reel Number: 21
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 290
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: Piece 007; Piece Description: Piece 007 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0536
https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/rn-ships/152-hms-rattler
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 97