Panton, Percy Stewart

740 Sergeant Percy Stewart Panton - 44th Battalion AIF

Percy Stewart Panton was born in Carisbrook Victoria on the 9th July 1893 to Alexander and Catherine Panton. He had a few siblings with, Ethel (1883), Henry Herbert (1885) and Catherine (1891) though sadly Catherine died shortly after birth.

The family moved to WA in the 1900's and lived in Fremantle. In 1905 his sister Ethel was living at Rose Street South Fremantle.(In 1905 in Fremantle she married James Burgess Mills)

After leaving school, Percy found employment as a letter carrier/postman. In 1911 he joined the Royal Australian Navy reserve.

Percy's Father died on the 4th October 1911 in Kellerberrin, and his mother died 31st August 1915 in Perth.

When he signed up for the Great War in 1915, Percy was working as a Civil Servant and was living at Hay Street Perth. His sister Ethel in Rose Street South Fremantle would be his next of kin when he signed up.

On the 11th October 1915, Percy enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner recording Percy's physical attributes as;

Height  - 5 feet 9 inches;

Weight - 140lbs

Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue Grey;

Hair - Black.

After his successful enlistment, Percy was sent to No.33 Training Depot at Blackboy Hill Camp. Percy applied to attend the camp for Non Commissioned Officer training and so on the 8th December 1915 he was sent to the NCO School.

In January 1916 he was assigned as a Corporal for training purposes and then sent to No.47 Training Depot. On the 3rd February 1916 he was then assigned to the 44th Battalion AIF which was being established at Claremont Showgrounds Camp.

The next few months were to spent training in WA. The 44th Battalion then departed from Fremantle Harbour on the 6th June 1916 aboard the transport ship HMAT Suevic. After a long sea voyage the ship arrived at Plymouth on the 21st July 1916.

The next few months were spent training at the 3rd Australian Division Camp on the Salisbury Plains in England. On the 5th October 1916 Percy was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant. On the 25th November 1916 the 44th Battalion were sent to France. Initially they were sent to the area around Armentieres but by March 1917 the 44th Battalion had moved to Ploegsteert in southern Belgium.

On the 27th January 1917 Percy was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

In early March at St Yves Percy was wounded in the cheek by shrapnel. Fortunately the shrapnel had just caused slight abrasions and after treatment at the 10th Field Ambulance, Percy was back with the 44th Battalion within a few days.

On the 16th March 1917, only a few days after rejoining his unit, Percy suffered gas poisoning when a German gas barrage hit their positions. He was initially treated at the 9th Field Ambulance and was then sent to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He had a few days there and was then sent to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station. 

Percy remained there for a few more weeks. Fortunately his poisoning wasn't severe and he was able to rejoin the 44th Battalion on the 18th April 1917.

The 44th Battalion was now situated in the St Yves and Ploegsteert region of southern Belgium.

On the 4th June 1917 the 44th Battalion conducted a trench raid on the Germans at Ploegsteert. The 44th battalion managed to get into the Germans lines and captured four prisoners but suffered many casualties themselves. Percy was not in the actual initial raid but was in charge of the Reserve party which could be sent forward if needed. Percy received the German prisoners and later wrote to the Red Cross;

On checking them in we found five of "D" Company missing. I questioned all the men and amongst the statements made, was one that Corporal Frearson was seen to fall into a shell hole in the German wire and seemed to be pretty badly wounded. The raid only lasted seven minutes, so that no one had a very clear idea of things. I knew the exact position that the raiders had entered the German trench and after dark took four men and searched for the missing ones. We found two of them, Pte. A.E. Barley wounded and T Leishman killed and although we searched all the shell holes along the enemy wire could not see any trace of Corporal Frearson and the other two. Owing to a very bright moon and the activity of the German machine guns we could not go past the wire. The raiding party was under Lieut. F.O. Gaze 44th Battalion who was slightly wounded but has now returned to the Battalion. Jumping off point was near corner of Toronto Ave and the front line Ploegsteert Wood sector Belgium...

A few days after this raid took place, the Battle of Messines commenced. Large mines which had been dug under the German lines were detonated, devastating the German front line. The British, Australian and New Zealand infantry then followed up this explosions and captured a large area of territory.

The 44th Battalion did not take part in the first days advance but was used in the following days in an attempt to expand the gains already made. On the 24th June 1917 Percy was wounded when shrapnel hit him the abdomen, right leg and arm.

After treatment at the field ambulance, Percy was sent to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station and from there was sent on an ambulance train to the French village of Wimereux. He was then admitted to the 14th General Hospital. He had a few days of treatment there and was then shipped to England. He was then admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford.

Percy remained here for the next five months undergoing treatment to his wounds. On the 19th November 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He was only given a medical examination here and was then granted a two week furlough.

On the 5th December 1917 Percy reported in to No.3 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. Due to his wounds, Percy was given a low fitness rating, so would not yet be returning to his unit.

Further hampering his recovery, in January 1918, Percy was diagnosed with venereal disease. On the 24th January 1918 he was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford. He remained there till the 25th March 1918. After a week in the convalescent camp, Percy was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.

Over the next several months he was given medical examinations but this showed that he was not fit enough to return to action. Percy spent the rest of the war in England.

On the 11th December 1918 Percy boarded the transport ship Saxon and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 20th January 1919.

After being disembarked Percy was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a thorough medical examination. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 18th March 1919.

Upon his discharge from the AIF Percy went to live at 219 Stirling Street North Perth and took up employment as a Civil Servant.

In 1922 in Perth he married Rosalie Agnes Myers and they then moved to 56 Wasley St north Perth. In the 1930's they then moved to 2 Dunbarton crescent in Maylands.

In the late 1940's Percy moved to Albert Park Victoria where he secured employment in Melbourne as a Public Servant. Percy lived the rest of his life in Victoria.

He died on 14th July 1975 and was cremated at Springvale Cemetery Melbourne.