Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Rev. G.C. and Emily E PERCIVAL, of Peat's Ferry Road, Hornsby, NSW

FLIGHT-CADET H. K. PERCIVAL.
Rev. G. C. Percival of Camden, received a cabled message from the office of the Royal Air Force, England, on Tuesday last, September 24th, informing him that his eldest son, Flight-Cadet Harold Kingsley Percival, had on the previous day been killed by an aeroplane accident during flight practice, at the Montrose Aerodrome, Scotland. Flight Cadet Percival was up to the time of his entrance on war work, a member of the staff of the Technical High School, Ultimo, Sydney. Finding that a physical disability prevented his  enlistment, he entered on Y.M.C.A. work, and spent three months at the military camps in and around Sydney. On September 30th, 1916, he sailed as a military secretary, and  until the end of April last, was employed at Westham Camp, England. Having benefited considerably by the English climate, he entered the Royal Air Force, and took a course of training at Hastings, and afterwards at Reading. From there he went to Montrose Aerodrome, to complete his training by a course in flight practice; and it was here that the  mishap occurred which caused his death. Had all gone well, he expected to go to France in November on active aircraft service. He was an apt student, and was on the eve of his  final examination for the arts course at the Sydney University, when he answered the call of conscience and duty. The study involved in his preparation for a commission in the  Royal Air Force appealed strongly to him. In two out of the seven subjects he secured the maximum number of 100 marks, and in all but one of the remaining ones, he was well  in the nineties. As a student of history, he was profoundly interested in the places he was privileged to visit in the Old Land during leave, and as a man he made many friends. His career gave promise of great usefulness. He would have been 29 years of age in January next.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Harold Kingsley Percival was born on 7th January, 1890 at Bulli, New South Wales, Australia to parents George Charles & Emily Elizabeth Percival (nee McCoy).  His birth was registered in the district of Woonona, NSW.

He departed from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Aeneas (A60) on 30th September, 1916 as Y.M.C.A. Field Secretary.

Harold Kingsley Percival was in charge of the Y.M.C.A. Depot at Westham Camp, Dorset, England before joining the Royal Flying Corps.

On 29th April, 1918 Harold Kingsley Percival joined the Royal Air Force as Pte/2 No. 137709. He was aged 28 years, his religion was listed as Methodist & his civilian occupation was listed as Teacher. His next-of-kin was listed as his father – Rev. G. C. Percival, of Methodist Parsonage, Hill Street, Camden, NSW, Australia.

He was posted to C.D.D. on 29th April, 1918 then transferred to No. 2 Officers’ Cadet Wing on 5th May, 1918. He was transferred to No. 1 School of Aeronautics on 8th June, 1918.

Harold Kingsley Percival was graded as Flight Cadet on 29th July, 1918.

Flight Cadet Harold Kingsley Percival was posted to 32 T.D.S. (Training Depot Station) (Group North Western at Montrose, Scotland) on 3rd August, 1918.         

On 23rd September, 1918 Flight Cadet Percival was piloting an Avro 504 serial number E1608 from R.A.F. Montrose, Scotland when he attempted to return to the aerodrome, the plane stalled & spun into the ground from 100 feet.       

Flight Cadet Harold Kingsley Percival died at 12.35 pm on 23rd September, 1918 at R.A.F. Montrose, Scotland from an aero accident.

A Court of Inquiry was held – No. 013840 “The cause of the accident was due to an error on the part of the pilot in that he attempted to turn back to the aerodrome allowing his machine to get into a spin, and had not sufficient height to counteract it.”

He was buried in Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Montrose, Scotland – Plot number  A7. 44. and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Newspaper item – Camden News, NSW, Australia – 26 September, 1918 (page 1):

AN AUSTRALIAN AIRMAN KILLED

FLIGHT-CADET H. K. PERCIVAL

Rev. G. C. Percival of Camden, received a cabled message from the office of the Royal Air Force, England, on Tuesday last, September 24th, informing him that his eldest son, Flight-Cadet Harold Kingsley Percival, had on the previous day been killed by an aeroplane accident during flight practice, at the Montrose Aerodrome, Scotland. Flight Cadet Percival was up to the time of his entrance on war work, a member of the staff of the Technical High School, Ultimo, Sydney. Finding that a physical disability prevented his enlistment, he entered on Y.M.C.A. work, and spent three months at the military camps in and around Sydney. On September 30th, 1916, he sailed as a military secretary, and until the end of April last, was employed at Westham Camp, England. Having benefited considerably by the English climate, he entered the Royal Air Force, and took a course of training at Hastings, and afterwards at Reading. From there he went to Montrose Aerodrome, to complete his training by a course in flight practice; and it was here that the mishap occurred which caused his death. Had all gone well, he expected to go to France in November on active aircraft service. He was an apt student, and was on the eve of his final examination for the arts course at the Sydney University, when he answered the call of conscience and duty. The study involved in his preparation for a commission in the Royal Air Force appealed strongly to him. In two out of the seven subjects he secured the maximum number of 100 marks, and in all but one of the remaining ones, he was well in the nineties. As a student of history, he was profoundly interested in the places he was privileged to visit in the Old Land during leave, and as a man he made many friends. His career gave promise of great usefulness. He would have been 29 years of age in January next.  

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/montrose.html 

Harold Kingsley Percival was born in Bulli, New South Wales, on 7 January 1890, the son of Reverend George Charles Percival, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, and Emily Elizabeth McCoy. He grew up in Camden with his siblings in a home shaped by faith and service. Only three of the seven children in his family survived infancy, a reminder of the fragility of life in the late 19th century.

Percival received his education at Sydney High School, Sydney University, and Sydney Teachers’ College, where he trained as a teacher. He began his career in 1907 and, after several appointments, joined the staff of Sydney Technical High School in 1915. By 1916, he was regarded as an esteemed member of the English faculty. Former students remembered him with respect, and news of his death during the war was received with great sadness in the school community.

Although eager to enlist when war broke out, Percival was prevented from doing so by a physical disability. Instead, he sought to contribute through the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). In September 1916, he sailed for England to serve as a YMCA field secretary, organising support for soldiers in camp and maintaining the welfare services on which many relied. His determination to serve in some capacity reflected both his Methodist upbringing and his commitment to the wider war effort.

In April 1918, he was accepted into the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force). Percival excelled in training, scoring top marks in two subjects and performing strongly in others. By July 1918, he had been graded as a Flight Cadet and posted to the 32nd Training Depot Station at Montrose, Scotland.

On 23 September 1918, during a routine training flight in an Avro 504, Percival’s aircraft stalled and crashed from a height of 100 feet. He was killed instantly, only weeks before the war’s end. He was 28 years old. Percival was laid to rest in Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Montrose, Scotland, in a grave maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. His name is remembered on memorials in Camden and Sydney Technical High School