Percy spends the next 10 months on HMS Duke of Wellington originally launched as a 131 gun ship of the line in 1852 but now moored in Portsmouth where she saw the fleet review in 1896 for Queen Victoria's birthday. Following his initial training Percy was posted to his first sea going ship on 2 October 1902 HMS Intrepid an Apollo Class cruiser launched in 1889. Percy was rated as a Stoker 2nd Class and remained on Intrepid until the end of May 1904. He was rated a Stoker on 30 January 1903 His conduct and character were described as Very Good for his first two years in the navy.
Following two short spells ashore Percy spent the next four years aboard two battleships HMS Centurion and then HMS Prince of Wales. The latter was a Formidable Class Battleship launched in 1902 she was one of the last pre-dreadnoughts and was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet during the time Percy served on her from the end of May 1906 to the end of December 1908.
HMS Prince of Wales
It was whilst serving aboard Prince of Wales that Percy was rated as Stoker 1st Class and then 18 months later in December 1908 just prior to returning home he was made Acting Leading Stoker. He was to spend the next 5 months based ashore at two Training Establishments where Percy was confirmed as Leading Stoker. His character and conduct throughout his whole service to this point was described as Very Good.
Percy next saw service in two of the navy's old Protected Cruisers HMS Furious and HMS Niobe which had served during the Boer War. He then found himself on HMS Proserpine a Pelorus Class Protected Cruiser launched in December 1896. These Third Class Protected Cruisers were designed by Sir William White, who dominated Royal Naval ship design in the latter part of the 19th century. The cruisers were well armed for their size but were not designed for service with the battle fleet. They were to be the workhorses of the overseas fleet and were ideal for the "policing" duties which the Royal Navy performed around the globe.
HMS Proserpine
Percy joined Proserpine on one such commission where she would be policing the seas in particular attempting to halt the illegal trafficking of arms around the Persian Gulf. The arms were usually moved through Muscat in Arab dhows and the Royal Navy had a number of ships deployed in the region in an attempt to intercept them. The navy would often send out smaller launches of armed sailors and marines to investigate any suspicious local boats. In a 20 month period between October 1909 and July 1911 the Royal Navy captured 18 dhows, nearly 13,000 rifles and more than 2,400,000 rounds of ammunition. By the outbreak of the First World War the problem of gun running and arms trafficking in the region had been wiped out.
Percy was awarded the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp "Persian Gulf 1909 - 1914" for his service in the region. He arrived back in Britain in April 1912 and spent the next 8 months on dry land where he undertook additional training to become a Petty Officer. His conduct and character had remained Very Good throughout this period.
Percy married Amelia Holdship at Portsmouth in 1912. He then spent two weeks aboard HMS Argonaut rated as Stoker Petty Officer before being posted to HMS Terrible for the next 18 months. Terrible had earned considerable fame in during the Boer War and China War of 1900 but she was now a shadow of her former self and had been laid up for several years. In March 1914 Percy transferred to HMS Edgar and was serving aboard her when war broke out in the summer of 1914. By December of that year Percy was back ashore at the shore based training establishment Victory II it was here on 23 December that he passed the examination to be qualified to take charge of a stoke hold and was now rated as Chief Stoker. His conduct and character had remained as Very Good throughout his entire service.
On the 14 January 1915 HMS Royalist was launched she was an Arethusa Class Light Cruiser which was built at William Beardmore and Company's shipyard in Glasgow. Two months later on the 19 March Chief Stoker Percy Bull joined her.
HMS Royalist from the bow looking toward her 6" gun
HMS Royalist, along with Percy, was assigned to the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron and was present on the 31 May 1916 when the British Grand Fleet met the German High Seas Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. Royalist sustained no damage or casualties during the battle and in February 1917 was re-assigned to the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron.
HMS Royalist's forward 6" gun taken during First World War
Percy continued to serve on board Royalist until the end of July 1917 when he was once again back on dry land. He remained ashore until March 1918 when he found himself back at sea on HMS Topaze a Protected Cruiser launched in 1903. He was to serve on her until October 1919 when he came ashore for the final time.
Percy was shore pensioned in December 1920 and finally left the Royal Navy on 3 January 1924 after serving 22 years. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 4 January 1926.
Percy Salter Bull was awarded the following medals:
Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Persian Gulf 1909 - 1914"
1914/15 Star
British War Medal
Allied Victory Medal
His conduct throughout his entire service was Very Good and he should have received the Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. There is a possible reference to this medal being awarded on his Service Record but I am unsure as what it says and refers to.
Percy Bull's Naval General Service Medal with clasp Persian Gulf 1909 - 1914
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