Percy John King was born in Old Bilton, Warwickshire, England on the 8 October 1885.

The 1901 Census shows that the family lived at Bryntirion Farm, Rhyl, Flintshire, North Wales.  The head of the family was John King aged 36, who was employed as a Jobbing Gardener and Insurance Agent.  His wife Jane King aged 38 and their 8 (eight) children – Percy John King aged 16, a Draper’s Apprentice, George Herbert King aged 14, a Grocery Boy, Arthur Sydney King aged 11, a Tailor’s Errand Boy, Albert Edward King aged 9, Grace Evelyn King aged 7, Horace Edwin King aged 5, Alfred James King aged 3 and Agnes H M King aged 10 months.

On 9 September 1903, aged 18 years Percy emigrated to the United States of America, sailing from Liverpool on board the White Star Liner RMS ‘Oceanic’, bound for New York.  On arrival he travelled to Illinois where he obtained employment as a Farm Labourer.

On Saturday 24 June 1916 he enlisted in the Mexican Border Service and was promoted to Corporal on 30 June 1917.  He was further promoted to Sergeant on 15 November 1917 and on 10 May 1918 sailed for France on board the American Army Transport Ship USS Covington arriving in Brest on 24 May 1918.

The above photograph shows USS Covington homeward bound after landing several thousand soldiers, one being Sergeant Percy John King in Brest, France. She was torpedoed and sank on Monday 2 July 1918, shortly after leaving Brest .

He is also remembered on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales and on a remembrance plaque at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire.

There is no Flintshire Roll of Honour card for him at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, Flintshire.