Percy was born in Salby, Leicestershire, England on the 22^nd of December 1894.

Percy was a farrier when he enlisted at Bacchus Marsh, VIC in the AIF on the 3^rd of October 1914, aged not quite 20. He embarked aboard the HMAT A34 Persic, with the 13^th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron in late May 1915, disembarking in Egypt in late June.

The light horse were considered unsuitable for the initial operations at Gallipoli, but were subsequently deployed without their horses. The 13th Light Horse landed on 11 September 1915. For most of its time at Gallipoli the regiment manned the trenches at Lone Pine, one of the most heavily contested parts of the ANZAC front line. The regiment left Gallipoli on 20 December 1915.

Source: AWM

In March 1916 Percy was allotted to the 4^th Division Cavalry.

After arriving in France the various squadrons of the 13^th Light Horse Regiment were reassembled as part of the 1^st ANZAC Corps Cavalry in July 1916. In October Percy was promoted to Corporal and a month later was admitted to a Field Ambulance suffering from tonsillitis and then in late December he was suffering from influenza which saw him admitted to the 5^th General Hospital in Rouen, France in January 1917, then the War Hospital, Reading, England later that same month. Percy was eventually discharged from a Convalescent Depot to the 13^th Light Horse Regiment Details in April. He briefly attended a school of farrierey in August before proceeding to France to rejoin his unit in mid December.

In February 1919 Percy was admitted to 83^rd General Hospital, Boulogne, France suffering from influenza again. He was evacuated back to England and admitted to the 1^st Australian General Hospital, Sutton Veny - discharged in late March. In April Percy was AWL for ten days but no punishment was awarded. He embarked aboard the Leicestershire in May, returning to Australia in late June and was discharged from the AIF in September - medically unfit due to war service.

Percy applied for a free passage from England for his wife in November 1919 - his service records make no mention of a marriage.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour. He is also remembered in the Coimadai Avenue of Honour.

Notes

1. Also referred to as a Shoeing Smith Corporal