Clegg, Percival James

1144 Lance Sergeant Percival James Clegg - 11th Battalion AIF

Percival James Clegg was born in Victoria on the 16th January 1885 to Jacob and Margaret Clegg. 

He had several siblings, Lillian (1881), Walter (1883), Francis (1886), Eveline (1888), Charles (1891), Wilfred (1893) and Stanley in 1896.

Their father Jacob died in 1895 and in 1902 Margaret remarried to John McKillop. The family then moved to Western Australia.

The family soon moved to Western Australia and took up residence at 92 East Street Fremantle.

Percy worked as a Commercial Traveller and during this time also spent 5 years with the Fremantle Company of the 11th Australian Infantry Regiment of the Citizens Military Forces.

With the outbreak of the Great War Percy enlisted into the AIF on the 20th May 1915. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches;

Weight - 150lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment Percy was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to 'C' Company of the 28th Battalion AIF.

The 28th Battalion embarked from Fremantle aboard the transport ship Ascanius on the 9th June 1915. After reaching Egypt the men were sent to camp where further training was conducted.

In September 1915 the 28th Battalion arrived at Gallipoli and were sent to the newly captured northern sector of the battlefield. On the 2nd October 1915 after a few weeks on the peninsula Percy came down ill and was evacuated suffering from influenza and gastritis. He was initially treated at the 7th Field Ambulance and the 16th Casualty Clearing Station but was then sent to Mudros Island where he remained till the 29th November 1915. Percy was then back to Egypt and was admitted to No.2 General Hospital suffering from Rheumatic Fever. After a few days he was sent to a convalescent camp.

On the 10th January 1916 Percy returned to the 28th Battalion who were then in camp in Egypt. He didn't remain with the 28th Battalion for long. As his older brother William was with the 11th Battalion, Percy was able to transfer to this unit, being taken on strength on the 24th January 1916.

The 11th Battalion departed from Egypt in March 1916 and headed for France, reaching Marseilles on the 5th April 1916.

The 11th Battalion were then sent to northern France to the Armentieres sector. They had their first experience of Western Front trench life in this sector and would remain there through to June 1916. During this time Percy was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.

In July 1916 the 11th Battalion took part in the Battle of the Somme. On July 23rd 1916 the 11th Battalion took part in the capture of Pozieres village. During the action on the 23rd July Percy was blown up by a shell, being wounded and suffering from shell shock.

He was evacuated out of the front line and was sent to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen on the French coast. His condition was assessed as serious enough for evacuation to England.

On the 1st August 1916 Percy was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham. Percy spent over two months here and in October 1916 he was transferred to Woodcote Park Hospital still suffering from shell shock.

His condition was slowly improving and on the 11th October 1916 he was granted a two week furlough. On his return on the 27th October Percy was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs.

Percy's fitness was only rated at a 'B' level so he would remain in Camp for the next few months while his health improved.

In March 1917, Percy was sent to Wareham Camp where the 70th Battalion of the new 6th Division was forming. He would spend the next few months training with this new unit in England and was promoted to Corporal during this period.

As not enough reinforcements were arriving the 6th Division was disbanded in September 1917 and the men returned to their previous units.

Percy had been promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant for training purposes. He was reassigned to rejoin the 11th Battalion but fell ill and was admitted to Fovant Military Hospital. He thus remained in England for a few more weeks while he recovered.

On the 10th November 1917 Percy left England aboard a transport ship heading for France. He rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 14th November 1917.

During the 1917/18 Winter the 11th Battalion was holding the line in Belgium between Messines and Ypres. On the 19th January 1918 Percy fell ill, being diagnosed with tonsilitis. After a few weeks he had recovered and was about to return to his unit but fell ill with trench fever.

Percy was evacuated to England and was found to be quite unwell. As his condition was not improving it was decided that Percy would return to Australia for recuperation.

On the 17th June 1918 he left England and after the long sea voyage disembarked in Fremantle on the 5th August 1918. He was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace for a medical check up after which he was discharged from the AIF on 4th September 1918.

In February 1919 Percy's health must have improved as he volunteered for duty and was put on home service from the 14th February 1919 to the 21st April 1920.

In April 1919 in East Fremantle Percy married Ethel Owen. Percy secured employment as an insurance agent.

They lived in East Fremantle for a few years and Percy became heavily involved in the local RSL organisation.

They would later move to Subiaco where they lived in Nicholson Road.

In World War Two Percy again enlisted and served in No.1 Perth Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps.

Percy died on the 8th April 1952 at Hollywood Military Hospital Nedlands aged 67. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Welsh Free AA 0106