Friends of Hastings Cemetery

SCOTSMAN.—'The war literature now includes books of all sorts; but there is nothing in it more racy or readable than this collection of letters, what may be called familiar letters to the general public.... In spite of its subject, there is more fun than anything else in the book.... But a deeper interest is not lacking to the book, either in its animated descriptions of serious affairs or in the substantial gravity which a discerning reader will see between the lines of voluble and entertaining talk.'

CHRONICLE.—'Our Yeoman is a droll fellow, a facetious dog, whether with pen or sketching pencil, and we laughed heartily at many of his japes and roughly-drawn sketches.'

(The book is still available as a free ebook from Project Gutenberg www.gutenberg.org).

Percy continued to write his articles after his return from the South African War and maintained his links with the Yeomanry.  In November 1904 the HSLO reports that Colour Sergeant Ross, as vice chair of the CPRV was present at a benefit concert for a Private Sims who was suffering from consumption.  The article reports that Mr Ross continues his chatty articles on ‘The Adventures of Trooper Phibbs’ in the current number of The Reveille.

Having enjoyed a fairly well documented life in Hastings prior to the South African campaign, Percy seems to have moved to London afterwards.  In 1911 he was living at 26 Byrne Rd Balham with his wife. They had two sons Thomas (born 1902) and Robert (born 1910).  He was a furniture draughtsman.

Percy went to France on 14th March 1915, having volunteered at Clapham Common although only just still being of military age.  He served with the 23rd London Regiment and was killed barely two months after arriving in France.  After his death, probate was granted to Frederick Emus, a photographer and his estate was valued at £1291.9s.7d.