Caesar, Percy Richmond

3051 Private Percy Richmond Caesar - 1st Division Ammunition Column & Australian Flying Corps

Percy Richmond Caesar was born in Fremantle WA in 1895 to Frederick and Lilly Caesar. He was one of twelve children born to Fred and Lilly in Fremantle. The family lived at 183 Queen Victoria Street Fremantle.

Percy was educated at Fremantle Boys School and after leaving he took up an apprenticeship with Cooper Brothers in Bannister Street Fremantle. This apprenticeship was of five years duration and was in the engineering field.

During these early years Percy also served in the cadet unit at school and also in the 11th infantry and 86th Infantry of the citizens military forces. He was also involved in local sports and was a member of the Fremantle Rowing Club

On the 2nd September 1914, Percy enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. The medical examiner passed him as fir for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 8 inches;

Weight 10 stone 7;

Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown;

Distinctive Marks - Tattoo mark on right forearm & a cross on left arm.

After his successful enlistment Percy was assigned to the 1st Australian Division Ammunition Column. He had the rank of Driver.

After several weeks in camp at Blackboy Hill, Percy and his group boarded the HMAT Medic in Fremantle Harbour on the 31st October 1914 and after a couple of days moored in Gage Roads, set sail for Egypt.

Further training took place in Egypt, and when the Australian infantry landed at Gallipoli, Percy may still have been stationed in Egypt. The official records state it was In July 1915 that Percy was sent to Anzac Cove to reinforce the Artillery Batteries and he now held the rank of Gunner, but due to inaccuracy of some early records he may have landed with the first of the Artillery in April. 

After a few months at Gallipoli Percy came down ill with jaundice and was evacuated to Hospital. He didn't return to Gallipoli as the Anzac battlefield was evacuated in December 1915. In early 1916 Percy rejoined the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade and he left with them for France in March 1916.

Percy served with the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade through 1916 and 1917, serving at the Battle of the Somme in July and August 1916, Bullecourt in April and May 1917 and the Third Battle of Ypres from July to October 1917.

It was at Ypres that Percy was wounded on the 15th October 1917. He was hit in the thigh by shrapnel and was evacuated to hospitals in France and England.

The wound took a few months to recover from and during this time Percy took a transfer to the Australian Flying Corps and his rank was changed to Air Mechanic. Percy was initially assigned to the 6th Training Squadron AFC at Wendover in England and his duties included repairing and welding the planes. Accidents were commonplace so Percy would have been kept busy in fixing the planes.

Percy saw out the war in England, and in September 1918 news came through that leave was being granted to Australia for the early enlistees. Percy qualified for this 'Anzac Leave'  though he didn't leave England until the 3rd December 1918, so Percy would have celebrated the Armistice while in England.

Percy disembarked in Fremantle on the 17th January 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on the 23rd March 1919.

In 1919 his brother in law Lieutenant Benjman Angwin MC died of his war wounds, and Percy, along with his brothers Henry and Julius were chief mourners and pall bearers.

Upon his return to WA Percy had begun work at the State Implement Works but soon left as there was no work there for a welder. He wanted to begin his own business as a welder in Bannister Street, both for himself and for the Cooper Brothers.

In 1922 Percy applied for financial assistance under the Soldiers Land Settlement Scheme.

In 1928 Percy made the local news as he along with another chap named Fred Tilley rescued an elderly man who had got into difficulties in the Swan River and appeared to be drowning. They were fortunately able to resuscitate him.

In 1932 Percy married Hilda Wolfe at Buckland Hill.

Percy Richmond Casaer died in Safety Bay on the 18th March 1982 aged 87