Percy was born in Kentish Town, London on 23rd April 1894 to parents George and Emma, the ninth of eleven children. Within the time Percy was born and the 1901 census (approx 1896) the family had moved back to Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire where George Hull was born, and was familiar to the area. Percy, aged 6 at the time, lived in an area of Barrow called Nook with many of his siblings.
10 years later on the 1911 census Percy was then aged sixteen. All of his older brothers and sisters had left home but Percy remained, with his parents and two younger siblings - they lived at Freestowe Square, Barrow upon Soar and he worked at a cement factory as a labourer.
Percy was 18 when he joined the Royal Marine Artillery as a Private in Nottingham on New Year’s Eve 1912, leaving his then shoehand job. He was 5’8” tall with blue eyes, brown hair and body marks of a scar on his right hand, just above his palm and a black mole on his left shoulder.
He remained at the RM depot, training until 11th December 1913, rising to Gunner 2nd Class on 18th September 1913 and Gunner 1st Class on 13th November 1913. He left for his first and only ship, the dreadnought VANGUARD on 12th December 1913, until her explosion. He was aboard during the Battle of Jutland, gaining his Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal after his death, which were claimed by his mother as was his pension.
He is remembered locally on the Barrow upon Soar War Memorial.
#288 - 418/843
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
1901 & 1911 England Census
UK, Royal Marines Registers of Service Index, 1842-1925 ADM 159/87/13/233
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
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/8; Scan Number: 1035
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 106/0475/HUK-HUM
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 169
Photo - Illustrated Leicester Chronicle