Source: Per post by a member at the 18th Battalion Facebook Group.
Family Search: Private Percy Albert West was born on 7 April 1883, in Hampshire, England, United Kingdom as the son of Walter West and Henrietta Froud. He had at least 1 daughter with Edith Dean. He immigrated to Tonawanda, Erie, New York, United States in 1920 and lived in St. Catharines, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada in 1915 and Kenmore, Erie, New York, United States in 1942. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 32, his occupation is listed as carpenter in St. Catharines, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada. He died on 31 October 1961, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 78, and was buried in Springcreek Cemetery, Mississauga, Peel, Ontario, Canada.
MILITARY MEDAL
On August 15th 1917.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. Pte WEST was a member of a machine gun Crew who, on the 15th August 1917 were placed in an isolated post on the extreme right of our Battalion. After the N.C.O. in charge of the gun, and the No. 1 of the crew were casualties he took charge and carried on. He put a German machine gun out of action in a machine gun duel and stuck to his post and encouraged his crew by example and bravery under a terrible bombardment. He was with his gun day and night for four days in a very trying position.
(A.F.W. 3121. 15-8-17.)
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 