Powell, P

2nd Lieutenant Percival Powell

Percival was born on February 16^th 1879, the younger of two sons of solicitor Alfred Powell and his wife, Frances. He came to Dulwich in the spring of 1889, joining his older brother, Alfred, who had by that point already been at the College for three years, and would go on to be a pupil for over nine years, eventually leaving in the summer of 1898. During his nine years Percival played a prominent role in life at Dulwich, having earned a scholarship in 1894; for each of his last three years he was an editor of The Alleynian, as well as a member of both the 1^st XV and the Shooting VIII; as if this was not enough his final two years also saw him as champion of the steeplechase. After leaving he went on to King’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a 2^nd Class in both Classics and History, as well as a rugby blue, having played at half-back against Oxford in 1900. After graduating he served as an assistant master at first Loretto and later at Wellington College, coaching the school’s 1^st XV during his time at each institution. He also played rugby for Surrey, although he later gave it up in favour of taking up golf and figure skating, ultimately being awarded the Silver Skate by the Amateur Skating Association.

When war was declared in August 1914 Percival was still employed at Wellington, but he soon gave up this position to serve with the Rifle Brigade, being granted a commission very soon afterwards. Having been attached to the 9^th Battalion, he went over to the front for the first time in early June 1915 and would go on to serve around Ypres that summer. On August 2^nd he was killed instantly by a shell bursting in the trench within yards from where he had been sitting.