Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Cockerill, an Army pensioner, and was employed as a granite quarry labourer and horse driver, born 1867 in Croft, Leicestershire and his wife Annie Cockerill (nee Heath, married on the 1st August 1893 in the Croft Parish Church), born on the 28th July 1868 in Croft. Percival Heath Cockerill was born in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in Croft and was baptised on the 27th September 1896 in Croft Parish Church, his siblings were, Arthur Edmund, born 1894 and baptised on the 24th June 1894 in Croft Parish Church, Lizzie, born on the 29th May 1895 and baptised on the 14th July 1895 in Croft Parish Church and Harriett May, born 26th May 1899 and baptised on the 2nd July 1899 in Croft Parish Church, all his siblings were born in Croft, in March 1901 the family home was at 36, Granite Cos Cottages, Croft, Leics. In April 1911 Percival was employed as an apprentice stone cutter and was residing in the family home in Croft, together with his father a stone quarry labourer, his mother and siblings, Lizzie, Harriett and Doris, born on the 2nd September 1907 in Croft and baptised on the 29th September 1907 in Croft Parish Church. In 1939 Percival’s widowed mother was residing in the family home at 5, Orchard Street, Croft, together with his sister Doris, a hosiery trade worker.
Percival was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 24-30 Sep-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.