Percy Chittenden was the youngest of seven children born to Alfred Thomas and Ethel Lillian Chittenden. They lived near the Aldershot Army Barracks and Percy's father worked at the Farnborough Aircraft Establishment. Percy left school at 14 and took a job at The Daily Herald.

In 1939 he joined the Middlesex Regiment, departing Liverpool aboard the Duchess of York on 22nd March 1941, travelling via Cape Town, Bombay, Colombo, and Singapore before arriving at Hong Kong on 28th May.

During the fighting in Hong Kong Chittenden was in Z Company under Captain Christopher Man. Chittenden's diary for the first few days of war reads:

Mon. 8th Dec. Japan declares war on England and America. Three air raid alarms Hong Kong.

Tues. 9th Dec. 6 successive air raids. Were we lucky. Only 100yds away.

Wed. 10th Dec. 4 air raid alarms. Nearly our lot. No casualties.

Thurs. 11th Dec. 2 early raids. 2 late raids. Were lucky.

Frid. 12th Dec. No pay for first time in army.

Sat. 13th Dec. More raids than we bargained for but two planes down.

Sun. 14th Dec. Bombs still hitting the water thank goodness.

Mon. 15th Dec. First week of our war. 47 raids. Little damage. 4 planes down.

Tues. 16th Dec. Heaviest raids yet. Nearly all bombs in sea. 8 raids today.

Wed. 17th Dec. Only one raider today. Japs ask us to surrender. They had it.

There it ends. Z Company were sent to hold the vital strategic heights of Leighton Hill, where he was wounded by a grenade on 22nd December, receiving splinters in the left leg. He was taken to the Bowen Road Hospital, and when recovered joined his comrades at Shamshuipo POW Camp.

Later he survived the sinking of the Lisbon Maru and spent the remainder of the war in Kobe POW Camp, Japan. In Kobe, he volunteered with six comrades as a medical orderly, for which he was recommended for recognition by Chris Man. Man noted:

"Their behaviour throughout was exemplary, showing a complete lack of consideration for their own health and comfort, whilst displaying unusual courage in dealing with a task of which they knew nothing more than the small amount they had been able to pick up from the Medical NCO's in the Camp."

After liberation from Japan in September 1945, Chittenden was put aboard USS Admiral Dickman, bound for Hawaii. On board he was photographed by the US Army for publicity, with the caption:

"Private Percy Chittenden... tries to compose a cablegram to send to the folks back home as the ship which is carrying him in the first stage of his return to England docks at Honolulu."

His wartime diary was found on Broadwood Road, Leighton Hill post war by the Reed family returning to their home. The Reeds sent the diary to the address that Chittenden had written inside, writing on it:

"This was found in 1942 (summer) in our garden of No.8 Broadwood Road, Hong Kong when we went home. Everything lost. We lost four brothers. Very sad. B. Reed."

And:

"Can't locate please return this to his family if possible. Mrs. B Reed, 244 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hongkong".

The four brothers were of course the four Reed brothers killed in the HKVDC: Arthur, Edgar, Francis, and Stephen.

Chittenden settled in Neasden after the war and returned to The Daily Herald where he became Head of the Tape Room, and where he met Anne (the Editor's secretary), who he married in 1964. They both then switched to The Daily Mirror, later moving to Brighton.

Anne passed away in 1998 and Percy's health suffered, resulting in his death a few years later.