Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph William Toone a shoe trade riveter, born 1868 in Ludlow, Shropshire and his wife Mary Ann Toone (nee Wignall, married in the 4th quarter of 1891 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1868 in Rothley, Leicestershire. Percy was born in the 1st quarter of 1894 in Rothley, his siblings were, Reginald, born 1897 and Emily Hilda, born 1899, both his siblings were born in Rothley, in March 1901 the family home was at Cross Green, Rothley. In April 1911 Percy was employed as a boot trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Town Green, Rothley, together with his father a boot trade laster, his mother and siblings, Reginald a boot trade clicker, Emily a schoolgirl, Charles Lawrence, born 1904, Cyril, born 1906 and Ethel, born 1908, the latter three siblings were all born in Rothley.
Information taken from Percy’s Record of Attestation shows that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment at the age of 22 on the 8th December 1915, he gave his address as Top Green, Rothley, Leicestershire and his trade or calling as Boot Trade (Painter), he gave his father, Joseph William Toone as his next of kin. Information taken from his medical examination shows that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height and had a chest measurement of 29½ to 32 inches and weighed 102 pounds. His record of service shows that after enlistment on the 8th December 1915 he was transferred to the Army Reserve, being mobilised on the 25th January 1916 and posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment. On the 29th January 1916 he was posted to the 3rd (Labour) Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. On the 25th March 1916 he was transferred to the 12th Battalion West Riding Regiment, and served in France from the 1st April 1916 until the 11th February 1917, being posted on the 12th February 1917 to the Depot. On the 2nd June 1917 he was posted to the 3rd Battalion West Riding Regiment, and on the 3rd October 1917 was posted to the 8th Battalion West Riding Regiment and embarked for Boulogne, France, arriving in Etaples, France on the 5th October 1917. On the 13th October 1917 he was posted to the 2nd/4th Battalion West Riding Regiment, and it was whilst serving with this Battalion that he was reported as missing in action on the 21st November 1917. On the 19th August 1918 a note in his service record states, “Presumed to have died on or since 21st November 1917.” He served for a total of 1 year and 249 days. His Record of Conduct shows that during his service only one offence was committed, this occurred whilst he was serving with No. 3 Company of the 3rd Battalion West Riding Regiment, the offence took place at North Shields and was recorded as follows, “When on Active Service absent off final leave at 11.55pm until reporting to the Corporal of the Guard at 7.50pm, 17th August 1917 (2 Days). The witnesses against were, Corporal Kendall and Lance Corporal’s Rawson and Richardson. Having been found guilty, he was awarded 2 days Field Punishment and forfeited 2 days pay. His medical record shows that he was admitted to the 22nd Field Ambulance in the field suffering from abrasions to his heels on the 17th January 1917, he was then transferred on the 25th January 1917 to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station, on the 30th January he was admitted to the 20th General Hospital, France and was then transferred aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen to England on the 12th February 1917. The following information was provided on the 4th March 1920 by Percy’s mother Polly Toone, and witnessed by The Reverend Pearson at Rothley Vicarage, Leicestershire, on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family). Father of soldier, Joseph Toone, mother of soldier, Pollie Toone, full blood brothers, Reginald Toone, age 23, Lawrence Toone, age 15 and Cyril Toone, age 14, full blood sisters, Emily Toone, age 22 and Ethel Toone, age 11. Percy was awarded the British and Victory Medals.
The War Diary records: 21 Nov-17 – BERTINCOURT. At 10.30am on the morning of the 21st November the Battalion advanced to take the village of ANNEUX and the line of trenches from 7.20c.1.3. to road at E.24.b.8.6., “C” and “A” Companies operating on the right flank including the village of ANNEUX and “B” and “D” Companies operating on the left flank. Four tanks proceeded “C” and “A” Companies into the village which was strongly held by machine guns and which was stubbornly defended. “C” and “A” Companies cleared the village at about 1.00pm but having had considerable casualties and finding the enemy in considerable force could make no further progress and so consolidated NORTH and NORTH EAST of the village. “B” and “D” Companies also met considerable resistance on the NORTH WEST of the village, and suffered very heavy casualties, but finally reached their objective, namely the enemy trench from E.24.b.8.6. to F.19.a.9.5. (approximately), which proved to be a dummy trench. This necessitated “B” and “D” Companies withdrawing to the SUNKEN ROAD about E.24.h.8.5. to E.24.b.10.20. The Battalion was relieved about 8.00pm by the 2/7 WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. About 200 prisoners were captured during the day and a number of machine guns destroyed. Our casualties were about 6 officers wounded and 120 other ranks killed and wounded. (Reference MOEUVRES Sheet 1 – 20000). GRAINCOURT. Battalion after being relieved moved to about K.5.d.5.3. where the Battalion “dug in.”
An extract taken from the Official History of The Great War 1917. The Battle of Cambrai, 1917. The fighting on the St. Quentin Canal, gives a description of the action that took place on the 21st November 1917 in which Percy lost his life:- “Brigadier General Bradford used three battalions for the opening attack. The tanks, like those working with the 51st Division, had not been given sufficient time to get into action at 10.00am; but 19 of G Battalion (I Brigade) were hurriedly collected and all but one eventually took part. On the right the 2nd/4th Duke of Wellington’s had to wait 20 minutes for the tanks, and the right company then moved on Anneux with two tanks making direct for the village and two on either flank. After a number of brisk encounters Anneux was entered and occupied, but heavy blasts of machine-gun fire checked all attempts to continue the advance. The left company of the battalion had moved from the factory upon Anneux Chapel, some fifteen hundred yards along the main Cambrai road. Machine-gun and rifle fire came from a quarry and a sunken road on the northern side, but with the help of the tanks all resistance was crushed and many Germans killed. This company of the Duke’s arrived on the northern side of the road in the Cantaing line which afforded very little shelter from the fire of numerous machine-guns in Bourlon Wood; a withdrawal was therefore made to a sunken road 300 yards back. Anneux Chapel, together with the adjacent buildings and quarry, was captured by another company assisted by a tank.” On the 21st November 1917, the day that Percy lost his life, a further thirteen of his Battalion were also listed as being killed in action.