Percy enlisted on 7th February 1915 and was embodied into the East Anglian Casualty Clearing Station, Territorial Force. He was 33 years old at the time. He was promoted to acting Corporal the next day, then to acting Lance Serjeant on 16th June. Percy received substantive promotion to Corporal on 30th July 1915 when he embarked on the "Royal Edward" at Devonport. He arrived at Alexandria on the 11th August then set sail to Gallipoli the next day. Percy's body was never found and was believed to have drowned on the sinking of H.M.T. "Royal Edward" on passage from Alexandria to Gallipoli. He was the son of Thomas and Matilda Cottrell of Birmingham.