Davey, Percy
1878 Private Percy Davey - 28th Battalion & 2nd Australian Division Salvage Company
Percy Davey was born in Fremantle WA on the 16th April 1897 to John and Catherine Davey, and was one of five siblings with, John 1885, Fred 1886, Albert 1888 and Queenie 1890.
His father John died at home in Davis Street North Fremantle on the 6th November 1906. (Davis is now Staples Street)
Percy was educated in North Fremantle and after leaving school he took up an engineering apprenticeship with the State Government Workshops in North Fremantle. This apprenticeship lasted five years, after which Percy was qualified as an electrical engineer.
Percy also served in the 87B Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces.
His mother Catherine died in Perth in 1915.
On the 25th June 1915, the 18 year old Percy enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording Percy's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches;
Weight - 137lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Percy was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. Percy trained with this group in WA for the next few months.
On the 2nd September 1915 Percy and the 3rd reinforcements boarded the transport ship HMAT Anchises in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt. During the voyage Percy was given the temporary rank of Sergeant. After arriving in Egypt toward the end of September 1915 the men were disembarked and sent to the training camp.
However they would not be here for long and were immediately sent on to join the 28th Battalion on Gallipoli. Percy was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 12th October 1915. The 28th Battalion were then in positions around the Apex and Rhododendron Spur.
Though the 28th Battalion did not taken part in any actions while on Gallipoli they sustained a steady stream of casualties due to Turkish fire and also the harsh conditions affecting the health of the troops. Conditions were getting colder and snow fell in November 1915.
During November Percy was promoted to Temporary Corporal. However due to the cold conditions Percy was evacuated ill to Lemnos Iland in December 1915 suffering from influenza and frost bite. He was in hospital for a few weeks and left Mudros by hospital ship on the 8th January 1916.
On arrival back in Egypt Percy was sent to the 19th General Hospital in Alexandria. He remained in hospital until the 27th January 1916 and was then posted back to the 28th Battalion. He then resumed training with them over the next few weeks.
On the 16th March 1916 the 29th Battalion departed Egypt for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916. The men were then sent north to the Armentieres region and they would have their first experience of the Western Front in this sector.
On the 29th April 1916 Percy was detached for duty with the 2nd Australian Division Salvage Section. It changed it's name in January 1917 to the 2nd Australian Division Salvage Company.
Salvage companies were essentially the recycling and logistics arm of the military, tasked with cleaning, repairing, or salvaging valuable materials left on the battlefield to reduce waste and supply shortages.
On the 25th February 1917 Percy was sent to hospital ill and was suffering from appendicitis. He was sent to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen. After a few days he was sent to England and on the 16th March 1917 was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham.
On the 17th April 1917 Percy was released from hospital and was now well enough that he was granted a two week furlough. On the 2nd May 1917 he then reported into the No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. Percy remained here for the next six weeks while he regained his full health.
On the 3rd July 1917 Percy returned to France and was taken back on strength of the 2nd Division Salvage Company. Percy and his unit were working near Ypres in Belgium from September to December 1917. Fortunately despite his heavy work, Percy was able to have a weeks leave in Paris from the 26th November 1917.
On his return, the 2nd Australian Division moved south east where they were positioned between Messines and Hollebeke. They were to remain here until March 1918. On the 3rd March Percy was then granted a fortnight's leave to the UK.
When he returned on the 21st March 1918, the Germans had launched their massive assault which broke through the British lines further south. As a result the Australian Divisions were sent south from Belgium and headed for the Somme sector.
From April to July 1918 the 2nd Australian Division saw service from Hangard to the south of Villers-Bretonneux to Morlancourt which was north of the Somme River.
On August 8th 1918 the Amiens offensive commenced which broke through the German lines and for the next few months the Australian divisions were constantly on the advance.
On the 31st May 1918 Percy had reverted to the rank of Private at his own request and on the 5th August 1918 was promoted back to the rank of Lance Corporal. On the 12th August 1918 Percy was detached for duty with the War Records Section.
Percy saw out the remained of the war with the War Records Section. The tasks of the War Records Section was to collect records and artefacts associated with the Australian units. Being from the Salvage Corps Percy would have been an ideal person for the collection of artefacts.
On the 24th January 1919 Percy returned to England and was sent to the AIF Camp at Weymouth. He would now wait here to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 28th February 1919 Percy boarded the transport ship Anchises and set sail for Australia, reaching Albany on the 7th April 1919.
Percy then entrained north for Fremantle and was given a medical examination at No.8 Australian General Hospital in Fremantle. He was discharged from the AIF on the 3rd June 1919.
In 1919 Percy got married to Winifred Alice Roberts and daughter Joan was born in 1920, followed by Arthur 1922 and Percy in 1925.
The family were now living in West Leedervile and Percy was working as an electrical fitter. He would go on to become the foreman at the Electrical Shop at the Midland Junction workshops.
The family lived in Leederville and Wembley through the 1930's and 40's.
Percy Davey died on 7th October 1948 aged 51. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican YC 0480.