Gray, Percy Herbert

3055 Corporal Percy Herbert Gray - 11th Battalion AIF

Percy Herbery Gray was born in Perth WA on 31st July 1895 to Herbert and Ada Gray. He had two siblings, Berth born in 1890 and Horace in 1892.

Percy was educated in Fremantle and after leaving school he took up employment as a Clerk. During his school and work years Percy served in the Naval Cadets and then in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve.

The family lived at 31 Francisco Street before moving to 55 Howard St South Fremantle. (later renumbered to 3 Howard St)

On the 28th June 1915 Percy successfully enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for enlistment, with the medical officer recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 120lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Percy was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 9th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF. He had a few weeks training with this group but was then transferred to the 10th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.

On the 13th October 1915 Percy and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Themistocles. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving there in early November 1915.

The men would have been expecting to be sent on to Gallipoli, but with evacuation plans in place for the Dardanelles, Percy and his group were retained in the reinforcement camp in Egypt.

The 11th Battalion returned from Gallipoli in early January 1916 and Percy was taken on strength on the 7th. He trained with them in Egypt for the next three months.

In late March 1916 the 11^th Battalion departed Egypt and arrived at Marseilles France on the 5^th April 1916.  The 11^th Battalion were disembarked and put onto trains for the north of France. They spent April to June 1916 to the south of Armentieres where they received their first experience of life on the Western Front.

In July and August 1916 the 11^th Battalion fought at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, with Percy coming through these battles unscathed. After a short sojourn in Belgium, the 11^th Battalion were back on the Somme in November 1916, and they would spend the freezing 1916/17 French winter in this sector.

On the 6th March 1917 Percy was sent to hospital suffering from bronchitis but returned to his unit ten days later.

As a result of the German retirement to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917 the 11^th Battalion were involved in follow up operations, notably around Morchies. On April 15^th 1917 the 11^th Battalion were holding a scattered outpost line in front of Lagnicourt when the Germans attacked their and neighbouring units positions. Despite an initial breakthrough the Germans were eventually pushed back. Just on three weeks later the 11^th Battalion were involved in the 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt. Percy again survived unhurt and after Bullecourt the 11^th Battalion were given a three month rest period out of the lines. 

The 11^th Battalion began to move back towards the front in Belgium in late August and were to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On September 20^th they took part in the Battle of Menin Road and successfully took their objectives. On October 7^th the 11^th Battalion conducted a successful operation on Celtic Wood, causing the enemy a lot of casualties. As a result the enemy severely bombarded the 11^th Battalion’s positions. They then continued to hold the line around Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele through October and November 1917. Percy again emerged unscathed despite heavy casualties in his unit.

From November 1917 to March 1918, the 11th Battalion held the front line in the sector between Messines and Ypres Belgium.

As a result of the German offensive of March 21st 1918 when they broke through the British front in the southern sector, the five Australian divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 11th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division was the last of the divisions to leave Belgium and had just arrived near Amiens when the Germans broke through the line in Belgium and made a speedy advance into northern France. The 1st Australian Division was then returned north and met the Germans around Hazebrouck, Meteren and Merris and for the next few months were in action here. Percy was now promoted to Lance Corporal.

On the 31st July 1918 Percy was appointed to the rank of Corporal. Shortly after this the 11th Battalion was moved south to Villers-Bretonneux where they would take part in the large advance that was due to take place on August 8th 1918.

The 11th Battalion didn't take part in the first day of the advance but went into the line on the 9th August 1918 and on the following day attacked the German positions at Lihons. The Germans had well entrenched positions and unleashed a heavy machine gun fire on the advancing men of the 11th Battalion. Many of the 11th Battalion were killed and wounded by this fire but Percy had survived the action yet again.

The 11th Battalion were in action against the Germans until the 18th September 1918. They were then pulled out of the frontline for a well deserved rest period. The 11th Battalion spent the next several weeks away from the front and were just about to return when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.

When the Germans withdrew to their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium. On the 17th December 1918, Percy was sent on a leave period to the UK. He rejoined the 11th Battalion in France on the 9th January 1919. Percy only spent twenty more days with his unit. On the 29th Jnauary 1919 he left the 11th battalion and went to the Australian Base Depot camp at Le Havre. He had a few more days here and then, on the 3rd February 1919 returned to England.

Upon arrival Percy was sent to the 1st Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. He remained there until the 28th February 1919 when he was sent to the transport ship Anchises. This ship then brought Percy back to Australia, disembarking at Albany on the 7th April 1919.

Percy then entrained north to Fremantle and was given a medical assessment at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 3rd June 1919.

After his return from the war Percy resumed his work as a Clerk and went to live at 11 Jackson Street North Fremantle.

In 1929 Percy moved to Wellington Street Mosman Park and in 1931 to Marmion Street Cottesloe. By the mid 1930's Percy had moved again, this time to Rupert Street in Subiaco.

On the 23rd January 1941 Percy enlisted into the Australian Army for service in World War Two. He was one again passed as fit for service and was assigned the Service Number W18499

in 1942 Percy married Helen Graham in Perth and their residence was 214 Cambridge Street Wembley.

Percy's service was in the Western Command Stationary Department and he was at the rank of Captain. He served in the 5th Military District (WA) from 1941-1947.

Percy died on the 16th August 1951 aged 56. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.