Sergeant-Bugler Percy Guest was born in Benares, India and enlisted in the Rifle Brigade as a Boy at Dinapore in October 1888, aged 15 years. Remaining in India - and Burma - until January 1890, he attained the rank of Private on coming of age in May of the following year and that of Bandsman in June 1893, but did not see active service until the Boer War. His appointment to Band Sergeant in the 4th Battalion took place in January 1900, an event that receives mention in The Rifle Brigade Chronicle, as does the Band's 'victorious career' in South Africa, where it was 'in great request'. Guest returned home in February 1903, transferred to the Permanent Staff of the 7th Battalion later that year and was appointed Sergeant-Bugler in April 1904. He was finally discharged with an 'Exemplary' character assessment and a L.S. and G.C. Medal in September 1907.