Percival James (SN 40a) born in Ballarat, was a 20 year old commercial traveller when he enlisted in Ballarat on March 31st 1915. He trained with the Australian Army Medical Corps and the early part of his service involved nursing duties aboard troop transport ships including the Nestor and the Karroo. He was then transferred to the 4th Field Ambulance for service in France where his bravery earned him the Military Medal, his citation reading, 'He did very good work on 11th April, 1917, in the fighting near BULLECOURT. When the R.M.O. was killed by a shell which fell in the Battalion Headquarters, he immediately took charge, and although the R.A.P. was continually under shell fire he coolly continued to bandage the wounded who were coming in in large numbers and all were quickly attended to.' When the fighting finished, he married Lilian Hanney in England on August 23rd 1919. He returned to Australia aboard the Megantic, disembarked at Melbourne on February 20th 1920 and was discharged on April 21st.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Percy James.