Second Lieutenant Samuel Ernest Percy

 

Samuel Ernest Percy was born on 13 February 1898 at 28 Hillman Street, Belfast, the first of four children of book-keeper (later secretary of the Old Age Pension Committee and First Assistant of the Belfast Poor Law Union) Hugh Ferguson Percy and his wife Elizabeth (née Davis). Educated at Bloomfield National School, St Donards, at the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 14 Ebrington Gardens, Bloomfield, with his parents and three siblings.

Percy enlisted (as Ernest Percy) in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron at Belfast on 9 November 1914 (No. UD/121). He gave his age as 19 (he was in fact just 16), and his occupation as a fitter.

On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division. Three days later at Olincourt he was disciplined for 'neglecting to obey an order', losing a day’s pay. Despite this he was promoted to  lance corporal (unpaid) on 16 November. (He was made paid lance corporal on 10 April 1916.) On 2 May 1916 Percy and three other men of the squadron were sent to the 36th Divisional Signal Company for a course in visual signalling.

Percy was admitted to No.11 Stationary Hospital at Rouen on 19 June 1916, suffering from boils (furnunculosis). On 26 July he was evacuated to England, where he was admitted to the Mile End Military Hospital in London. It was not until 21 June 1917 that he was able to rejoin his unit in France.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron had joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the Regiment was disbanded and its men, following training at the 36th (Ulster) Division Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Percy, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt. Percy was issued regimental number 41150 and was posted to B Company.

On 2 October 1917, however, he applied for a commission in the infantry, expressing a preference for the 18th Battalion, London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) (Note: He stated in his application that before the war he had been an apprentice engineer.). He returned to the UK for officer training on 21 November, reporting for duty at the No.7 Officer Cadet Battalion at Fermoy on 8 February 1918.

Percy was commissioned on 31 July 1918 and was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was released from military service on 8 April 1919 and relinquished his commission on 1 September 1921.

At some point after the war Percy worked in the Northern Ireland civil service. In the 1943, 1947 and 1951 Belfast directories his address was 5 Aston Gardens at 29 Belmont Church Road, Belfast.

 

Percy's brother Thomas Butler Percy also served in the war, in the Mercantile Marine.

 

This page last updated 25 March 2023.