Percy Andersen was born in Springfield, Chemsford, Essex on the 18th March, 1896, the son of Andrew Andersen and Eliza Andersen (Nee Wakefield). His father was Swedish and had become a British subject in 1869, whilst his mother was local. The family lived at Chelmer Place in Springfield.

Percy enlisted at Chelmsford in 1911 in the 1/5th Battalion of the Essex Regiment. In July 1915 the Battalion embarked on the SS Grampion for Gallipoli, landing at Suvla Bay on the 9th August. Percy was injured in battle on the 14th August but continued to serve. He was killed on the 2nd November 1917 during the capture of the Rafa Redoubt and Zowaid Trench. Percy has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial in Israel.