Albert, Percival Henry George

3252 Percival Henry George Albert - 11th Battalion AIF

Percival Henry George Albert was born in Perth WA in 1882 to Henry and Sarah Albert. He had five siblings, Julia (1878), Emma (1879), Frederick (1881), Grace (1884) and Ethel (1886).

The family had moved to Fremantle in the 1880's and Percy was educated locally. After leaving school Percy secured employment with the Fire Brigade and also completed several years of military service. Percy had served as a Trumpeter with No.2 Field Battery in Fremantle and also had fours years service with the WA Mounted Infantry.

In 1912 in Fremantle Percy married Eleanor Edith May Northover and they resided at 23 Essex Street Fremantle. He was working for the Fire Brigade in Fremantle during this time.

On the 19th July 1915 Percy enlisted into the AIF. The medical examiner passed Percy as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 10 inches tall;

Weight - 149lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36-38 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment Percy was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.20 Training Depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work at this training camp and Percy was then assigned to the 11th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.

Percy trained with this group in WA through September and October 1915. Their embarkation orders finally came through and on the 2nd November 1915, Percy and his group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Ulysses. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving at Suez on the 24th November 1915.

After being disembarked, Percy and his group were marched into the reinforcement camp. With Gallipoli about to be evacuated, the reinforcements would be retained in Egypt, until the Australian units, including the 11th battalion returned to Egypt.

The 11th Battalion returned to Egypt in January 1916 and was soon at its full complement of numbers. Percy did not join the 11th Battalion until the 2nd March 1916. He was then appointed to "B" Company of the 11th Battalion.

During his time in Egypt Percy met fellow firefighters from WA and had their picture taken which was sent back to WA and was published in the Western Mail 4th August 1916. Percy is in the centre of the front row.

Percy trained with the 11th Battalion through the next few weeks but they soon received their orders to depart Egypt. On the 29th March 1916 the 11th Battalion departed Alexandria aboard a troopship bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 5th April 1916.

The men were then disembarked and sent north to the Armentieres region of France. They would have their first experience of Western Front life in this sector around Bois Greiner and Fleurbaix.

The 11th Battalion remained in this sector until June 1916. In July 1916 the 11th battalion were sent to the Somme battlefield. Percy and his unit would become involved in the capture of Pozieres village on the 23rd July 1916. Percy survived this action and also subsequent service at Mouquet Farm in August 1916.

In September 1916 the 11th battalion was sent to a quieter part of the front line near Ypres in Belgium. On the 20th September 1916 Percy was slightly wounded by shrapnel, though after treatment at the nearby Field Ambulance, he returned to the 11th Battalion on the 28th September 1916. In October Percy was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal and the unit then returned to the Somme battlefield in France.

On the 9th November 1916 Percy was evacuated sick. He had issues with his eyes and nose and was evacuated to hospital.

Percy had an extended stay in hospital after which he was re-assigned units, now being taken on strength of the 4th Australian Division Headquarters in February 1917.

During a period of leave in England, Percy reported ill and was sent to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He had further medical tests and it was found he had defective vision and a nasal catarrh.

Percy's fitness level was now downgraded so he would not be sent back to France. It was recommended that he best returned home. On the 27th July 1917 Percy boarded the transport ship Demosthenes and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 18th September 1917.

He was discharged from the AIF on the 23rd October 1917. Percy was then granted a war pension of 20/- per fortnight.

When he was overseas his wife Eleanor had moved to 98 Tuckfield Street Fremantle, (now 69 Tuckfield Street) which was where her family the Northovers lived, and Percy resided there after his return home.

Post the Great War, Percy resumed his career as a fireman and in the 1920's moved to Geraldton to continue this work.

In the late 1930's he returned to Perth to work for the Fire Brigade and resided at 213 Stirling Highway in Claremont. In 1949 they moved to Safety Bay.

Percy died on the 1st August 1956 aged 73. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.