Sweetman, Percy

725 Private Percy Sweetman - 51st Battalion AIF

Percy Sweetman was born in Fremantle in 1895 to Benjamin and Mary Sweetman. He was one of several children with Robert (1888), Franklin (1889), Eunice (1893), Ernest (1897), Cecil (1900) and Clarence (1902). The family lived at 8 McCleery Street Beaconsfield (later renumbered 2 McCleery) and Percy was educated locally at White Gum Valley primary School.

After leaving school Percy took up work as a dairy hand and was working in the Bibra Lake and Jandakot area.

Percy (pictured on right in photo) chose a strange way to enlist as he stowed away on the transport ship HMAT Suevic when the 44th Battalion left Fremantle in June 1916.

When he was discovered he was able to enlist on the high seas, but he just had to pass the medical examination. The doctor recorded Percy's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 3 inches tall;

Weight - 134lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Fair.

After his enlistment, Percy was assigned the regimental number 725 and was officially taken on strength of the 44th Battalion. The Suevic arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 21st July 1916. The men were then disembarked and sent to the 3rd Division training ground at the Salisbury Plains.

Percy trained with the 44th Battalion for about six weeks but he then had his unit re-assigned. Percy would now be joining the 51st Battalion so was transferred to complete his training at the 13th Training Battalion. Percy trained in England until the 2nd November 1916 when he was shipped across to France. He then spent two weeks at the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples before joining the 51st Battalion on the 17th November 1916.

The 51st Battalion were then on the Somme battlefield undergoing terrible wet and muddy conditions. They would remain here through the French winter of 1916/17. Percy wrote home early in 1917;

I am looking forward to spend next Christmas in dear old Fremantle but every preparation is being made to have a jolly good time over here and I think it will be a real home away from home turnout. I am now in billets after being over three weeks up on the Somme and I am not sorry neither as the mud up there is something awful as everywhere you go it is nothing but mud up to your knees and it is that slippery that one is always falling over in it but never mind, we all must rough it a little at times.

In March 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. Their withdrawal was pressed all the way by Australian and British units and several sharp battles were fought around what was known as the Outpost Line villages. Percy wrote;

There has been much activity over here lately as nearly every night there are big raids on the German trenches and in nearly every case there has been ground gained and prisoners taken and if you were only to see the grand work our artillery is doing you would agree with me when I say that I honestly believe the end of 1917 will see us on our way back to dear old Australia again...Things have been pretty lively over here lately as there have been raids nearly every night on the Fritz front line and you will see by the papers that the Germans have retired on a large front further back Germany way and he tried to make out that it was quite voluntary but if you were only over here and saw what our guns pepper him with every night and our boys were making raids night in and night out, one would not wonder why he did retire.

The 51st Battalion was involved in the capture of one outpost line village at Noreuil on the 2nd April 1917.

Percy survived this and subsequent actions around Bullecourt.

In June 1917 the 51st Battalion were sent to Messines in Belgium where they took part in the current offensive operations taking place there. They would be in this sector from June to August 1917. Percy wrote home about a mate from Beaconsfield;

I can tell you that Jack Newman got killed in the last stunt…it is a pity to see so many of our dear pals going out to it every day but never mind let us hope that this year is the last.

From September to November 1917 the 51st Battalion took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, with Percy seeing action around Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge. He survived these actions unscathed and from December 1917 to March 1918 he remained with the 51st Battalion as they helped to hold the front line in Belgium between Ypres and Messines.

On March 21st 1918 the Germans launched their Spring offensive which broke through the British line further south in France. As a result of the breakthrough, the Australian Divisions were sent south from Belgium to the Somme to help stop this German advance.

The 51st Battalion were sent to the area near the French towns of Albert and Dernancourt. In late March and early April 1918, the 51st Battalion were in action against the Germans in this area. On April 5th 1918 the Germans launched a large attack on the Australian positions and during the battle Percy received a shrapnel wound in the leg.

He was taken to the 13th Field Ambulance where his wound was initially treated and then to the 29th Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent on an ambulance train to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Boulogne. Percy had three days here and was then shipped to England.

On Arrival in England Percy was sent to Canterbury Hospital in Kent. He received more treatment and was in hospital here until the 26th April 1918 when he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Percy remained here for another two months, being released from hospital on the 28th June 1918.

He was then given a two week furlough after which he reported into No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He remained there till the 11th October 1918 when he was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell.

After medical examinations it had been decided that Percy would not be going back to his unit so he remained in the AIF Camps in England for the next few months while he waited for a berth on a transport ship home. The Armistice came and went with great celebrations but it wasn't until the 28th February 1919 that Percy was assigned a ship.

He boarded the transport ship Anchises in Devenport Harbour and set sail on the long journey home, being disembarked in Albany on the 7th April 1919. Percy and the other West Australians from the ship were then entrained north for Perth.

Percy was discharged from the AIF on the 19th May 1919.

After the war Percy returned to live at McCleery Street and found employment as a clerk.

Percy later moved to North Perth.

Percy Sweetman died on the 14th August 1974 aged 79. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot MON A3 1043