FAMILY LIFE

Percy Price was born in 1894 in Kempsey, son of William Henry and Mary Price, of Cudgen and a brother to Effie, Matilda, Morris & Harold. Percy was not registered with a seconds Christian name. Morris enlisted in 1915 and was killed in action 1918

ATTESTATION

He was single farmer, eager to do his bit. He enlisted in Murwillumbah on 22^nd March 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father, William, of Cudgen. He attended cadets in Murwillumbah. His medical showed he was 20 years 8 months old, 5ft inches tall (1.68m), weighed 140 lbs (63kgs), with a medium complexion, brown eyes & brown hair.  His eyesight was good

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Percy “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Percy Pierce Price, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

He was Methodist and had a small scar on the underside of his right shin as well as a very long linear scar on his left wrist.  He was enlisted as a private into the 15^th Infantry Battalion with service No 1967. He was transferred to the 4^th Machine Gun Company in January 1917

INITIAL PROCESSING AND BASIC DRILL MARCH -APRIL 1915

After enlisting, Percy would have reported to a local depot or drill hall, most likely in Queensland, given the 15th Battalion was primarily raised in Brisbane and regional Queensland. During those 4–5 weeks, he would have undergone:

·      Medical inspections and inoculations (likely for typhoid and cholera)

·      Basic drill instruction — rifle handling, saluting, marching

·      Possibly some route marches and camp discipline instruction

These activities often happened in temporary depots or showgrounds in capital cities and major regional centres. For the 15th Battalion, locations like Enoggera Camp near Brisbane were commonly used

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS- EMBARKATION AT PINKENBA WHARF, BRISBANE

On 15 April 1915, Percy embarked on HMAT Kyarra, leaving from Pinkenba Wharf.  The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

EGYPT & HELIOPOLIS TRAINING CAMP MAY 1915

The voyage took him to Egypt, where the AIF was concentrating near Heliopolis and Maadi Camps. Percy would have travelled by train to the Australian Light Horse training camp at Heliopolis, a sprawling military training camp located just outside Cairo. Heliopolis had originally been a fashionable new suburb with grand buildings and wide boulevards, but during the war, it was transformed into a major Australian base and hospital centre. The once-luxurious Heliopolis Palace Hotel had become the No. 1 Australian General Hospital (1AGH), and the surrounding open ground served as a base camp for incoming troops.

Frederick would have undergone further military training to prepare him for the rigours of desert warfare. This included mounted drill and horsemanship, reinforcing the Light Horse’s role as mobile infantry.

Rifle shooting and bayonet practice & field manoeuvres and tactical exercises in the surrounding desert terrain. Route marches and physical conditioning to build endurance under harsh conditions were regularly held. He learnt camel and horse care, including feeding, grooming, and managing water supplies — crucial skills for desert service.

The conditions at Heliopolis were challenging, particularly for men used to the green hills and milder climate of places like Murwillumbah. The days were dry and hot, often well over 30°C, even in spring. The nights could be surprisingly cold, especially out in the desert. Soldiers had to contend with dust storms that whipped across the camp, coating everything in fine sand. There was limited shade — many tents offered little protection from the sun. Rations were basic, often lacking in fresh fruit and vegetables, which sometimes led to minor illnesses. Flies and lice, which were a constant nuisance.

Despite this, there was also some freedom and morale-boosting opportunities.  Cairo was only a short tram ride away, and soldiers often visited on leave to see the markets, pyramids, and the famed nightlife. There were YMCA tents offering books, games, and writing materials. The men shared a strong sense of camaraderie, having all come from similar rural or regional backgrounds. Percy and the other recruits only received a short course of training, however.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH JUNE 1915

On 16 June, Percy was taken on strength at Gallipoli, joining the 15th Battalion, which had already been entrenched there since their landing on 25 April 1915.

By that stage, the 15th Battalion was holding positions around Quinn’s Post, Courtney’s Post, and Pope’s Hill — part of the frontline on Second Ridge above Anzac Cove. The front was static but extremely dangerous: constant Turkish sniper fire, trench raids, poor hygiene, and shelling

During this time, Percy would have endured the daily grind of Gallipoli trench warfare, including night sentry duty: watching for Turkish activity, repairing trenches and parapets under cover of darkness & latrine digging, wiring, and water-carrying

Daytime routine included avoiding exposure: soldiers kept low due to snipers, rest, and maintenance in dugouts & dealing with lice, flies, and disease

Units rotated between frontline, support, and reserve positions. The 15th moved between Courtney’s, Quinn’s, and nearby rear areas like Rest Gully when pulled out of the line briefly

LATE JULY – EARLY AUGUST: PREPARATIONS FOR THE AUGUST OFFENSIVE

In late July, the 15th Battalion began preparing for a major Allied offensive: the August Offensive, an ambitious plan to break the deadlock on Gallipoli. The 15th, as part of the 4th Brigade (Brig. Gen. John Monash), was assigned to a key attack: the assault on the slopes of Hill 971 and Hill 60.

From late July:

·      Extra supplies and ammunition were brought forward

·      Troops were drilled in assault practice, though space and secrecy limited preparation

·      Morale was boosted with promises of victory

WOUNDED IN ACTION AUGUST 1915

On 6–7 August, the 15th Battalion participated in the attack on Sari Bair, moving inland through Rhododendron Spur towards Hill 971.

This attack was chaotic and brutal. The terrain was difficult and poor maps led to disorganisation- the 15th suffered heavy casualties

Percy was wounded in action with a wound to his shoulder on 7 August, likely during the confused advance or Turkish counter-attacks.

THE EVACUATION PROCESS

Percy was carried by stretcher bearers to the 4^th Field Ambulance. A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

He was then evacuated by hospital ship from Anzac Cove to Mudros. Which had large field hospitals, casualty clearing stations, and convalescent depots. He was treated in tent or hut hospitals on the island

ECVACUATED TO ENGLAND AUGUST 1915

Percy was transferred from Mudros onto the Aquitania, mid-August

He was cared for during the multi-day voyage from the Aegean Sea to Southampton or Plymouth, then taken by hospital train to London.

Percy was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth

on 23 August 1915. This was one of the most prominent military hospitals in England & specialised in surgical cases, wounds, and amputations. Conditions would have been far superior to Gallipoli or Mudros. Percy received surgery or wound care & had access to cleaner facilities and better food

He remained there recovering from his wounds and was later transferred to Weymouth, a large convalescent depot for AIF troops on England’s south coast. Though no dates are recorded for his time at Weymouth, it is likely he underwent a period of recuperation and physical reconditioning there.

REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER 1915

On 7 December 1915, Percy boarded the troopship HMT Olympia to return to the Mediterranean, arriving back in Egypt and rejoining his unit the very next day, on 8 December 1915

HOSPITALISED WITH MUMPS – EGYPT, DECEMBER 1915 TO FEBRUARY 1916

After rejoining the 15th Battalion Percy  resumed training and reorganisation duties with his unit, which had withdrawn from Gallipoli as part of the December 1915 evacuation. The battalion was now based near Tel-el-Kebir, preparing for the reorganisation of the AIF following the heavy casualties of the Gallipoli campaign.

However, Percy’s return to duty was short-lived. On 31 December 1915, he was admitted to the 21st General Hospital in Alexandria, suffering from mumps, one of many contagious diseases that spread quickly through the overcrowded camps and training areas in Egypt.

He remained under treatment there for nearly a month before being transferred on 27 January 1916 to the Ras el Tin Convalescent Hospital, a British-Egyptian hospital located on the coast near Alexandria. Ras el Tin provided rest, lighter duties, and recovery for soldiers not quite ready to return to full military life.

After regaining his strength, Percy was finally discharged and rejoined his unit on 11 February 1916, just as the AIF was being expanded and reorganised for service on the Western Front. The 15th Battalion would soon leave Egypt behind, bound for France and the grim trench war in Europe.

FROM EGYPT TO THE WESTERN FRONT

Following his recovery from mumps, Percy Pierce Price remained in Egypt with the 15th Battalion through the first half of 1916. During this time, the AIF underwent major expansion and reorganisation in the desert camps near Tel-el-Kebir and Serapeum, training for the new and far deadlier theatre of war — the Western Front.

On 1 June 1916, Percy and the 15th Battalion departed Egypt, embarking for France as part of the newly formed I ANZAC Corps. They disembarked at Marseilles on 8 June 1916, entering the war in Europe and beginning a long train journey north through the French countryside toward the Somme region.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

Percy now found himself fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.

HOSPITALISATION SPRAINED ANKLE JUNE 1916

However, shortly after arrival, Percy was sidelined once again — this time due to a non-combat injury. On 19 June 1916, he was admitted to the 6th Field Ambulance suffering from a sprained ankle, a common but frustrating setback that could happen during marching, disembarkation, or training.

He was then transferred to the 2nd Australian Divisional Rest Station (2 A.D.R.S.), which provided short-term care for minor injuries and illness close to the front lines. Fortunately, his injury did not require long-term treatment, and he returned to duty on 28 June 1916.

Though not yet in the thick of battle, Percy had now fully transitioned to the Western Front — just weeks before the AIF’s baptism of fire in France during the Battle of the Somme.

WOUNDED ON THE WESTERN FRONT – 4TH MACHINE GUN COMPANY (AUGUST–OCTOBER 1916)

Sometime after arriving in France, Percy was transferred from the infantry into the 4th Machine Gun Company, part of the newly formed Machine Gun Corps that consolidated heavy machine gun operations into specialised units. These companies supported infantry battalions with sustained fire from the powerful Vickers machine gun, and their positions were often dangerously exposed.

In late August 1916, Percy and the 4th M.G.C. were supporting the 2nd Australian Division during the fierce fighting near Mouquet Farm, part of the broader Battle of the Somme. This battle, fought in appalling conditions of mud, shattered trenches, and constant bombardment, was one of the AIF’s most devastating campaigns.

On 29 August 1916, Percy was wounded in action, receiving a gunshot wound to the left leg — likely from enemy machine gun or rifle fire during a counterattack or while manning his Vickers gun under pressure. He was quickly evacuated through the casualty chain and admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, on the French coast.

Percy remained in hospital for over a month, recovering from the wound and avoiding infection — always a risk with leg wounds in the filthy front-line conditions. On 12 October 1916, he was discharged from hospital, having avoided permanent damage but bearing the scars of some of the worst fighting the AIF had seen to that point.

OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 1916: YPRES SECTOR (QUIET BUT DEADLY)

After the horrors of Pozières and Mouquet Farm, the 2nd Division, including the 4th M.G.C., was rotated north to the Ypres sector in Belgium. Though technically a “quiet” front compared to the Somme, it was still active with:

·      Sniping

·      Trench raids

·      Occasional artillery exchanges

·      Knee-deep mud and collapsing dugouts

During this period, the machine gunners were rotating in and out of frontline positions, supporting trench raids with covering fire & dealing with terrible trench conditions, freezing temperatures, and rain. It was also a time of rebuilding — the 4th M.G.C. would have received reinforcements, replaced damaged equipment, and trained new members on Vickers gun operation.

DECEMBER 1916 – JANUARY 1917: ARMENTIÈRES SECTOR

The AIF moved into the Armentières sector, a relatively quiet stretch of the front sometimes called “nursery” trenches due to its stable lines. However, it was still dangerous, and the 4th M.G.C. continued manning static gun positions to suppress German movement, performing deep-night maintenance and supply work & rotating with other machine gun companies through front and support lines. The bitter cold made life miserable. Frostbite and trench foot were common, and lice and scabies (like what Percy would suffer in March) spread easily.

OFFICIALLY TAKEN ON STRENGTH 4^TH MACHINE GUN COMPANY JANUARY 1917

On 20^th January 1917 Percy was taken on strength with the 4^th Machine Gun Company

FEBRUARY – MARCH 1917: GERMAN WITHDRAWAL TO THE HINDENBURG LINE

In February 1917, the Germans began a strategic withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line (Siegfriedstellung), abandoning territory around Bapaume and Péronne. The 2nd Division followed cautiously, and the 4th M.G.C. played an important role by providing covering fire during the advance, establishing new firing positions in captured villages and outposts & guarding against German rear-guard actions, ambushes, and booby traps

The advance was slow and difficult due to destroyed roads, heavy mud, and uncertainty about German positions. Percy would have been marching, digging in new positions, and possibly billeted in ruined villages

28 MARCH 1917 – HOSPITALISED WITH SCABIES

By late March, the strain of poor hygiene, cold weather, and infested clothing took its toll. On 28 March 1917, Percy was admitted to hospital with scabies — a common complaint among soldiers who lived in the same uniforms for months. Scabies was highly contagious and required isolation, removal and burning of infested clothing & medicated baths and lotions. He likely spent several weeks in a divisional rest station or contagious disease hospital, away from the front.

11 April 1917 – Killed in Action at Bullecourt

Just four days after rejoining his unit on 7 April 1917, Percy was back in the front lines with the 4th Machine Gun Company, supporting the 4th Brigade and 2nd Australian Division during the First Battle of Bullecourt. This battle was part of a broader British offensive along the Hindenburg Line — a new, heavily fortified German defensive system. The Australian role was to capture the village of Bullecourt, near Arras, and breach the Hindenburg Line using infantry, artillery, and tanks in coordination.

The Plan and the Disaster

The attack on 11 April was ill-prepared and deeply flawed. The Australians were to attack without artillery support, relying instead on British tanks, which broke down or were destroyed early.

The 4th Brigade, supported by machine gun companies including Percy’s, had to cross open ground under intense fire from German positions. Communication failed. Units were cut off. The Germans launched strong counter-attacks with machine guns and grenades.

As a member of the 4th M.G.C., Percy would have been providing covering fire during the Australian advance across No Man’s Land & firing from forward positions or moving his Vickers machine gun into place under fire. He was exposed to German return fire, including machine guns, artillery, and snipers & possibly trying to protect retreating or isolated infantry units during the chaos

Machine gunners were often priority targets — their guns were heavy (around 18–20 kg), hard to move, and highly visible once firing began.

MISSING THEN CONFIRMED KILLED

Percy was first reported missing in action on 11 April 1917, a common status when a soldier fell in No Man’s Land or during a chaotic withdrawal.

COURT OF ENQUIRY

As soon as possible after a battle a court of Inquiry was held to determine what had happened to all ranks within the battalion. All soldiers were then listed and what happen was ascertained to the best of the knowledge of the men involved. This was not always possible to confirm those missing unless they were seen by a survivor to be killed or wounded. In many cases those listed as missing and were not on the hospital or PoW reports from the Redcross or from the Enemy either German or Turkish were declared dead. The actual date of death was not determined until they made all enquiries and this process could take a few days to many months. Percy was later officially declared killed in action on the same day, based on eyewitness reports or post-battle recovery taken in the Court of Enquiry on 29^th October 1917. His mother was officially advised on 19^th November 1917

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Percy was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour  in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 179 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War. He is buried in the Queant Rd Cemetery, Buissy, France, Plot 4 Row C11.

His father received the Memorial Scroll on 29^th July 1921, the Victory Medal on 25^th October 1922 & the Memorial Plaque on 28^th November 1922

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