Percy was born on 16 September 1921 in Riverhead, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia to Winford and Mabel Atwood. He came from a large family with five brothers and six sisters. After leaving school, he worked as a farmhand.
He enlisted in the West Nova Scotia Regiment on 16 July 1940, training at Aldershot, Nova Scotia. He then moved to the Royal Rifles of Canada continuing his training in Newfoundland, followed by garrison duty there until August 1941.
The Royal Rifles of Canada then were deployed to Hong Kong, arriving on 16 November 1941. Within a month, Japanese forces had invaded, and the Royal Rifles were part of the defence of Hong Kong.
Percy was killed on 23 December 1941 when his patrol was raked by enemy machine gun fire as they approached the Repulse Bay Hotel. He was 20 years old.
Percy was one of 107 Canadian soldiers lost in the defence of Hong Kong with no known grave and is commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial, Column 24.
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