Green, Percival Theodore

5862 Private Percival Theodore Green - 28th Battalion AIF

Percival Theodore Green was born in Fremantle WA on the 1st July 1892 to Frederick and Lucy Green. He had several siblings, Albert (1891), Frederick (1893), Ellen (1894), Thomas (1897), Charles (1902), Kenneth (1908) and Kingsley (1908).

Sadly, his father died on the 22nd April 1910 leaving their mother to bring up the family.

Percy was educated in Fremantle and after leaving school he took up an apprenticeship in Tailoring in Fremantle.

 This apprenticeship was of five years duration and during this time he also served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces.

The family were then living in Swan Street North Fremantle.

On the 14th April 1916 in Fremantle Percy enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. The medical examiner found Percy to be fit for service and the medical examiner re corded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 3/4 inches;

Weight - 116lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-33 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Auburn.

After his successful enlistment Percy was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially assigned to No.64 Training Depot. On the 4th May 1916 Percy was transferred into the 16th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. Prior to his departure overseas, Percy and Tom who was training at Claremont with the 44th Battalion were able to have a photo taken together for the family (pictured below - Percy on left and Tom on right)

Percy trained with his reinforcement group in WA for the next few months. On the 9th October 1916 Percy and his group went to Fremantle Harbour and embarked on the transport ship HMAT Suffolk. The ship set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 2nd December 1916.

The men were then disembarked and sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He was not there for long as on the 21st December 1916 he was in a group of soldiers who left Rollestone camp and proceeded to Folkestone Harbour where they boarded a troopship for France.

After arriving at Etaples Percy was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot. He remained here until the 17th January 1917 when he left camp and joined the 28th Battalion.

The 28th Battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield undergoing a very cold French winter.

In March 1917 the Germans began a strategic withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australian and British troops followed up this retirement closely and several sharp battles were fought. The 28th Battalion were heavily involved in the capture of Lagnicourt from the Germans on March 26th 1917. Percy came through this engagement safely and also the next large attack the 28th Battalion was involved in which was at Bullecourt in May 1917.

After the 28th Battalion had left Bullecourt Percy was evacuated ill to the 7th Field Ambulance but recovered quite well as he returned to the 28th Battalion on the 24th May 1917.

From June to August 1917 the 28th Battalion were withdrawn from the line for a three month rest period.

In September 1917 the 28th Battalion headed for Ypres where they were to take part in a current offensive taking place. On the 20th September 1917 Percy was with his unit when they took part in the Battle of Menin Road. The objectives were successfully taken though during the advance Percy was hit in the head by a German bullet.

Fortunately it was not a severe wound, with the bullet just skimming along his head. Nevertheless he was evacuated to the Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Station for some patching up. On the 3rd October 1917 Percy was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot where he was able to rest up and properly recover from the wound.

On the 24th December 1917 Percy rejoined the 28th Battalion. They were then holding the line in Belgium near Ypres.

On the 1st February 1918 Percy was granted a fortnight's leave to England, returning on the 19th February 1918.

March 21st 1918 was the opening of the German offensive which broke through the British Armies further south. The 28th Battalion as part of the 2nd Division were sent south to the Somme to try and hold back the German advance.

Through April and May 1918 the 28th Battalion saw much action around Dernancourt, Morlancourt and Ville-sur-Ancre. 

In June they moved to the Villers-Bretonneux front and remained there through to July 1918.

Percy served with his unit through the next few months, and participated in the August 8th attack from Villers-Bretonneux which smashed through the German lines. The 28th Battalion participated in several actions over the next few weeks, most notably at Peronne and Mont St Quentin.  The 28th Battalion was in action until October 4th 1918 when they fought at Montbrehain. Percy came through all these actions unscathed.

The 28th Battalion were then pulled out of the line for a well deserved rest and were still away from the front when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.

On the 14th December 1918 Percy was granted a fortnight's leave to England. While he was in England he was transferred on temporary detachment to the Australian Army Ordnance Corps and he served with them for the next few months.

On the 22nd March 1919 Percy was sent to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall suffering from tonsilitis. He was also found to be suffering from diphtheria so Percy remained in Hospital till May 1919. On the 6th May 1919 Percy rejoined the AAOC, serving with them for the next two months.

On the 8th July 1919 Percy was granted a period of non-military employment as he had requested to gain further experience in tailoring, working for a company in Buxton Hill London.

On the 7th October 1919 his non-military employment finished and he returned to the AIF Camp to await being assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 15th November 1919 Percy boarded the troopship Ypiringa, which brought him back to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 26th December 1919.

Percy was discharged from the AIF on the 28th April 1920.

He then returned to his pre-war career of being a Tailor and went back to live in Swan Street North Fremantle. He then moved to Petra Street East Fremantle in the late 1920's and was still living there up to the late 1930's.

Percy was living in Spencer Street Bunbury when he enlisted for World War Two on the 15th October 1940. (W30657) Percy was originally in the 19th (Reserve) Garrison Battalion but upon his enlistment was sent to the 5th Garrison Battalion.

In 1941 he was transferred to the 19th Garrison Battalion and in 1944 was sent to the 10th Garrison Battalion. His service during the war was within Western Australia.

Percy was discharged from the Australian Army in 1947. He had reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. His address at this time was 102 Petra Street Bicton.

When he retired in the 1960's Percy moved to Mt Pleasant and then to Dianella.

Percival Green died on the 26th September 1981 aged 89. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.