A gifted athlete, at the age of sixteen Percival Molson participated in several sports and as an ice hockey player he was a member of the Montreal Victorias that won the 1897 Stanley Cup championship.

In track and field he competed in several events including the Long Jump in which he set a world record at the American Athletics Meet in 1900.

After Molson easily beat American Harry Hillman at the 1903 Canadian Championships in the 400 meter race, it was thought he had a chance in that event at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri.

During horrific encounters with the German Army, where members of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions suffered 8,430 casualties, Percival Molson received the Military Cross for his valour.

After recovering from his wounds, he returned to the front lines with his Regiment (PPCLI) and on July 5, 1917, at the outskirts of Avion, Pas-de-Calais near Vimy Ridge in France, Captain Percival Molson was killed by a direct hit from a German howitzer.