5 Sergeant Percy Acrill ARTHUR
26th Battalion AIF
by Robert Simpson
October 2021
P.A. Arthur, one of the soldiers photographed on p. 27 of The Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to the Queenslander, 5 June, 1915. From State Library of Queensland.
Percy Acrill Arthur was born in Maryborough on 17 July 1895, the second child and son to John Acrill Arthur and Ellen Blonk Seastron and was one of eight children in the family. John had been born in 1865 in Old Brampton, Derbyshire to George and Elizabeth Arthur. George was a farmer. John was baptised on 24 December 1865 in Saint Peter Church, Brampton. They moved to Sheffield before the 1871 census, and George was a Coachman. By the 1881 census George was a gardener (domestic servant) and Elizabeth was a dressmaker. At the age of 15, John was an errand boy, but was unemployed. In the 1891 census, George was a jobbing gardener (domestic), Elizabeth was still a dressmaker and John was a blacksmith. In early 1892 he married Ellen Blonk Seastron. Ellen had been born in 1871 in Sheffield. In the 1881 census, her father, William Seastron was a retired ‘table knife hafter’ at the age of 43 and her mother Emma had no occupation. By the 1891 census, just all the children were listed, with Ellen a dressmaker. Their parents had died in 1884 and 1885.
The above picture of John Acrill Arthur is from a book done on the history of the Arthur family which says ‘photo possibly taken between 1881 and 1891’. The uniform is of the Royal Dragoon Guards but no military records have been sourced to confirm any details.
John and Ellen departed London on Oroya on 23 September 1892, bound for Sydney. They were listed as Mr J (27) and Mrs Arthur (21) and he had nil written in the occupation column. The 1912 electoral roll shows them living at Tooley Street and John was a fisherman. (Family records state he was working as a blacksmith at Walkers though). John passed away on 14 December 1912 in Maryborough and was buried in the Maryborough Cemetery on the next day in Monumental L plot 894. The funeral director was Kirk & Son, with Reverend H Harris officiating. John had been suffering back pain, was ill and unable to work and had gone into his room, got his rifle and shot himself. An inquest mentioned he was a ‘heavy drinker’. The Maryborough Chronicle of Friday 20 December 1912 had a lengthy article on the shooting, and included that Ellen had called Percy who went to get a friend and when they returned heard a gunshot. His father was dead in the bedroom. The paper noted that Percy was 17, an apprenticed blacksmith at Walkers. As a widow, Ellen made men’s dress shirts for Stuparts store. She was an active worker for the Red Cross during the two world wars, mainly knitting and sewing and was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary RSSALIA.
They migrated over to Australia on the Oroya, for their honeymoon.
After his death, Ellen married George William Nunn on 20 May 1924 (in Maryborough?). George had been born in Maryborough in 1883 (according to his service record, no birth record can be found) and had served in the AIF in WW1 as 21146 Driver with 35th Battery 9th Field Artillery Brigade, enlisting on 29 November 1915. He was a boilermaker. During the war he was wounded. He returned to Australia in May 1919 and was then admitted to hospital with VD, before being discharged in September. George was entitled to the British War and Victory medals. They lived in Eva Street and George was a labourer. George died on 24 September 1957 in Maryborough. Ellen died on 7 February 1961 at 134 Churchill Street Maryborough. They are buried together in the Maryborough Cemetery in Monumental O plot 119.
Grave picture and picture of Private 21146 George William Nunn.
John and Ellen’s first son, John Blonk Arthur was born in Maryborough on 20 December 1892. He married Florence Hilda Godfrey (born 1896) on 04 December 1915 in Queensland. In the 1916 electoral roll they were living at Tooley St and he was a painter. By the 1925 census they had moved to Woodstock Street. In the 1943 roll they were residing at 214 Tooley Street and John was still a painter. A son said John found it hard to get a job in the depression and he was a master painter, working for Rogers and Comber, painting contractors. Two of their sons served in WW2. John Robert (Jack) Arthur (1916-1994) enlisted as Q25286 in August 1940 and was discharged on 7 August 1945 as a Sergeant with the 47th Battalion. Mervyn George Arthur (1920-2009) enlisted in May 1941 as Q105928 Private in the 47th Battalion and, on his request, was discharged on 1 November 1944 as a Gunner with the 6 AA Heavy Battery. His service records are available to view online.
214 Tooley Street.
John Robert Arthur and Mervyn George Arthur.
Their details were the same for the 1954 roll. Florence died on 27 September 1971. In the 1972 roll, John was living at 26 Waterson Street and had retired. John Blonk Arthur died on 2 November 1977 in Wahroonga Nursing Home Maryborough. He was buried in Maryborough Cemetery on 4 November in Garden of Rest vii plot 1755, with Florence in plot 1754.
George William Arthur was born on 28 July 1897 in Tooley Street Maryborough. He enlisted on 27 October 1915 as Private 257 with the 42nd Battalion B Company. He was a baker and had been apprenticed to PC Miller and Sons Maryborough for 3 years. Ellen Arthur of Eva Street was listed as his next of kin. George had 7 years with the cadets or militia in Maryborough and Citizens Forces 4th Infantry. He was 18 years and 2 months old, height 5-foot 9½ inches, weighed 125 pounds, had a chest measurement of 32 to 35 inches, and had a fair complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. For distinctive marks he had a tattoo on his left forearm, a scar on his forehead and a mole on his right scapula. Eyesight was 6/6. He embarked from Australia on 5 June 1916. In October 1916 he went AWOL while in England and was awarded 10 days field punishment No 2 and lost 13 days’ pay. When he got to France, he spent a bit of time going sick to hospitals before getting a severe gunshot wound to the foot in June 1917, which was self-inflicted (negligence). After being sent to England he committed more offences before being sent back to France in January 1918. He was subject to a Court Martial in April 1918, for which he was found guilty and had to forfeit 1 days’ pay. The statement from the Commanding Officer about George, in his service records, is less than flattering. In June 1918 he received a gunshot wound to the right arm and was sent to hospital and then to England. He returned to Australia in September 1918 and was discharged in the 1st Military District on 31 December 1918. George was entitled to the British War and Victory medals.
George William Arthur.
In the 1919 electoral roll George was living at Eva Street with his mother and was a baker. On 14 May 1921 he married Elsie Bertha Begick (born 6 June 1900 in Maryborough). By the 1931 electoral roll they were living at Iindah road Tinana and he was still a baker and she was doing home duties. By the 1934 roll they had moved to Gayndah Road Maryborough and he had changed occupations to a labourer. Their details were the same for the 1937 roll. George had changed occupation again by the 1949 roll to fettler, and they had moved to Muan, Gayndah Line, Biggenden. In the 1958 roll they were living in Eidsvold and George was a railway ganger. The 1963 roll shows them living in 17 Pilot St Urangan and George had retired. They were living with Josephine Ann Arthur who was doing home duties. George died on 4 May 1968 in Maryborough. His last address was recorded as 17 Pier Street, Urangan. Elsie died in September 1971 (last address 42 Zephyr Street, Scarness) and is buried in the Maryborough Cemetery in Garden of Rest vii in Plot 1171 with George.
Dorothy Emily Arthur was born on 1 July 1889 in Queensland. On 30 March 1918 she married William Henry Henningsen in Queensland. William had been born in Maryborough in 1895. He enlisted in August 1914 in Maryborough as Private 335 with the 9th Battalion AIF. William had previous service with the 4th Infantry and was described as being 19 years and 3 months old, 5 foot 8 ½ inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, a chest measurement of 31 ½ to 34 ½ inches and had a dark complexion with grey hair and brown eyes. His religious denomination was Church of England. He was discharged on the same day. In the 1925 electoral roll they were living at 19 Constance Street Fortitude Valley, with William listed as a painter and Dorothy doing home duties. In the 1943 roll they were living at 26 James Street Valley with the same occupations. She passed away on 12 September 1947 and is buried in Toowong Cemetery Brisbane in plot 20-39-9. William passed away on 7 July 1950, was buried with Dorothy and also has a memorial at Lutwyche Cemetery at ANZAC – 8-4-66.
Dorothy Emily Arthur.
Edward Seastron Arthur was born on 11 July 1901 in Maryborough. He married Gladys Vivian Goodwin on 25 May 1923 in Maryborough. Gladys had been born on 15 October 1902 in Queensland. By the 1925 roll they were living at Victoria Street Mackay, with Edward a mercer and Gladys doing home duties. Her name is listed in the Police Gazette Index in 1925, but the actual record is not online. In the 1930 electoral roll Edward was at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Mackay and his occupation was listed as mercer (a merchant or trader, more specifically a merchant who deals in textiles). Their relationship broke down and he is found later in documents with Millie Louisa Bell. He died on 1 July 1940 and is buried in Norman Gardens, North Rockhampton Cemetery in Church of England Sec 2 Row 10 Grave No 1713. Gladys died on 30 July 1963 in Queensland.
Nellie Gertrude Arthur was born on 8 Aug 1904 in Maryborough. She married Andrew Gory Puller (born 19 April 1902 in Queensland) on 10 August 1923 in Queensland. In the 1925 electoral roll they were living in Ann Street and Andrew was a carter. The 1937 electoral roll shows them living at 86 Lennox St Maryborough, he was a carter and she was doing home duties. By the 1943 roll they were living at 46 Richmond Lane and Andrew was a labourer. In the 1958 roll they had moved to 38 Richmond Lane. The same details were recorded in the 1977 and 1980 rolls. Andrew died on 24 January 1986 and his ashes are in the Maryborough Crematorium in Courtyard Wall 1. Nellie passed away on 15 June 1994 and her ashes are in the same place.
Ethel Beatrice Arthur was born on 1 October 1906 in Maryborough. She married William George Schmidt on 19 November 1927 in Maryborough (according to Queensland Birth, Marriages and Deaths). In the 1927, 1928 and 1936 electoral rolls she was living at Iindah Road Tinana doing home duties, with Walter George Schmidt, a farmer (Looks like Walter should be his first name). Ethel died on 21 March 1941 in Brisbane and is buried in Maryborough Cemetery in Monumental K 627/3. After her death Walter moved and by the 1958 roll was a labourer, living at 32 Campbell Street Baddow. By the 1968 roll he had moved to Bundaberg and was a farm hand at 28 Johnson Street. According to other family trees he died in Bundaberg on 5 November 1979 and is buried in Bundaberg Cemetery, Location: Gen-A7A Grave No: A2478.
Ethel Schmidt grave.
Margaret Jean Arthur was born on 20 July 1910 in Queensland. The 1931 electoral roll shows her living at Eva Street Maryborough and she was a waitress. She passed away on 10 June 1933 and was buried in the Maryborough Cemetery on 11 June 1933 in Monumental L plot 894, with her father. Kirk & Sons did her funeral, with Reverend J Elliott officiating. Her last address is recorded as Eva Street Maryborough.
Enid Mary Arthur was born on 30 April 1914. Her birth record only lists her mother. She married Geoffrey Thomas Murray (1917-1983) on 12 April 1941. Geoffrey served in WW2 as Sergeant Q24865 in the 47th Battalion AIF, enlisting on 27 November 1941 and being discharged on 17 December 1945. Enid died on 1 April 1989 at 134 Churchill Street Maryborough and is buried in the Maryborough Cemetery with Geoffrey in section Monumental O, plot 486. Geoffrey died on 24 February 1983.
Percy enlisted on 1 May 1915 with the 26th Battalion AIF and was made a Private with the service number 5. The 26th Battalion was raised at Enoggera in April 1915. His service record has a big blue 15 written over that, with a stamped date 11 September 1918 and another number A124337 written above that. He stated that he was born in Maryborough and was a Natural Born British subject of 19 9/12 years. He was a blacksmith and had been apprenticed to Walkers Ltd in Maryborough for 5 years. Percy was not married and his next of kin was his mother Ellen B Arthur of Tooley Street Maryborough. He had no convictions or discharges and had served with 4th Battalion Senior Cadets for 2 years and the 1st Engineers 1 year. Underneath that is written ‘now exempt, residing outside’. He had never been rejected as unfit for service. He took the oath on the same day in Toowoomba as witnessed by 2nd Lieutenant Chas P Wallin.
His description was age 19 years and 9 months, height 5 foot 6 inches, weight 10 stone, chest measurement 33 to 35 inches, and had a fair complexion with grey eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. For distinctive marks he had an operation scar on the outside of the right knee. Percy was considered fit to serve on the same day. He was appointed to No. 5 Section, No.2 Platoon, A Company 26 Battalion AIF on 23 May 1915 at Enoggera.
In the embarkation roll, he is recorded as 5 Private Percy Aceill Arthur, in error, a 19-year-old blacksmith of Eva Street Maryborough. He was with A Company 26th Battalion who embarked on HMAT A11 Ascanius at Brisbane on 24 May 1915. He was single and his next of kin was his mother, with the same address details as recorded in his service records. He was keeping pay of 3 shillings a day, sending 2 shillings a day to Australia and 1 shilling a day was deferred. His service record states he embarked at Tasmania ‘of Queensland’ on HMAT Ascanius on 24 May 1915, which is obviously an error, as A and B Companies left on A11 as above. More men arrived from Tasmania after they left and they embarked on HMTS Aeneas on 28 June, leaving on 29 June. Nothing else is recorded in the 26 Battalion war diary until August 1915. HMAT Ascanius arrived in Egypt on 30 June 1915. The battalion trained in Egypt and landed on Gallipoli on 12 September 1915 from SS Abbassieh. They were involved in just defensive roles, acting as a reserve Battalion for the Division, and at times were responsible for the defence of Courtney’s and Steele’s Posts, and Russell’s Top.
Percy was part of the 25-man squad that was sent to Imbros for guard duty during October 1915, under Lieutenant Gustav Herbert Schemalleck. All 25 men were from the No. 2 Platoon A Company, and were tasked with guarding GHQ, the canteen and the airfield. Lieutenant Schemalleck is mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s diary as having had lunch with the C in C on 3 October 1915 at Imbros.
The battalion withdrew from Gallipoli on 12 December. On 11 November 1915 Percy was to be a Lance Corporal “Temporarily” and on 11 March 1916 he was to be a Corporal. The battalion moved to France in March 1916 and was part of the first trench raid undertaken by Australian troops on the Western Front on 6 June. They were also involved in actions around Pozieres in late July, early August.
Percy was to be a Sergeant (one record says temporarily) on 30 July 1916 ‘vice 34 Clegg A.H. Killed, France.’
On 5 August 1916 Percy was wounded in action in France. He was admitted to 26th General Hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm, classed as mild. On 13 August embarked per HS Dieppe at Calais for England with a gunshot wound to the forearm and then he was admitted to 1/5th Northern General Hospital in Leicester, with what they record as a ‘GSW LEFT BUTTOCK ( Slight )’. Another record states it was a gunshot wound to the left arm. A line in his records states on 19 August 1916 ‘Evacuated wounded reverts to rank of Cpl.’
He was marched into No 3 Commonwealth Depot at Weymouth from Southall on 13 October 1916. On 21 October 1916 he was reprimanded and forfeited 7 days’ pay ‘under R.W.’ for going AWOL at Bovington Camp from 4pm 13 October to 7pm 19 October 1916. Percy was also reprimanded by Major C R Lowe.
Percy proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone on HT Princess Clementine on 12 January 1917 and on 18 January he re-joined his unit. The 26th Battalion was involved in attacks at Warlencourt on 1-2 March. On 2 March 1917 Percy was wounded in action for a second occasion. On 6 March 1917 he embarked on HS St David from Rouen for England with ‘SW.L.Calf.Rt.Heel.’ He was admitted to 2nd Birmingham War Hospital on 7 March with a gunshot wound to the calf and right heel. On 28 May 1917 he was transferred from there to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital with his wound described as a gunshot wound to the left and right calf and right foot.
He proceeded overseas to France from the Overseas Training Depot at Perham Downs, via Southampton on 30 July 1917 and re-joined his battalion on 17 August 1917. In Belgium, the battalion fought in the battle of Menin Road on 20 September, and participated in the capture of Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October.
On 27 February 1918; as a part of 7th Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division, Australian Corps; 5 Sergeant Percy Acrill Arthur 26th Battalion was recommended for a Military Medal by Lieutenant Colonel Reginald John Albert Travers.
The citation reads ‘BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY. This NCO Commanded a platoon in the attack on ZONNEBEKE on 4/10/17. Although subjected to very heavy shell fire while on the jumping off line this NCO showed great coolness and held his platoon together splendidly. On gaining objective owing to casualties in officers he did excellent work in re-organising the Company and consolidating the objective gained. He has always set a fine example to the men by his Coolness, Courage and Devotion to Duty.’ Nothing else is mentioned in his service records, so it is assumed the recommendation did not progress any further.
From the Australian War Memorial E01084 ‘The 26th Battalion returning from the line along the duckboard track between Zonnebeke and Westhoek Ridge, in the Ypres sector. The Butte de Polygon can be seen on the right.
Percy was detached and proceeded to AIF Headquarters London on duty on 1 March 1918. On 19 March 1918 he re-joined the battalion ‘from Op detachment to Adm. Hdqrs London’. Percy was wounded in action for a third occasion on 12 June 1918, with the record stating he was a Sergeant at the time. On 15 June he was admitted to L of C Hospital from “FM unit wnded (Sgt)’. While in hospital he wrote a note for the Red Cross on the killing of Private 1693 William David Lynch 26th Battalion which reads: ‘Kl Oct 6th 1917. Dets. He was in my platoon No II of A.Co. and on Oct 6th about 10 or 11 p.m. we were holding the position just in front of Zonnebeke when a shell landed close to us, hitting him on the back of thehead. I was close to him and saw him killed instantly. About three yards away from the trench was a shell hole where, owing to the enemy barrage, we decided to bury him at once. Two of my men buried him and as Sergeant I was standing by. All we could do was to mark the place with a stick and piece of paper with name on. I took all his books and papers and sent them to Hqrs. Was a short thick-set man, clean shaved, aged about 23, medium complexion, – home address Campbell Street, Bowen Hills, Brisbane. I got this address from his pocket and intended writing to his mother but have never had time. Inf: Sgt P.A.Arthur 5. A.Co. No. 13 Gen.Hosp. BOULOGNE 18.6.1918.’
He was discharged to Base Depot on 22 July 1918 ‘from LOC Hospl, ex Wnd.’ While away from the battalion, the 26th Battalion captured the first German tank to fall into Allied hands – No. 506 Mephisto on 14 July at Monument Wood. On 18 August 1918 he re-joined his battalion. Percy was again wounded for the fourth time on 2 September 1918 and was admitted to L of C Hospital on the next day. This was during an attack east of Mont St Quentin. On 4 September he was invalided to the UK as wounded and on 5 September Percy was admitted to Military Hospital Boscombe with a bullet wound to the left hand. He was discharged from hospital on 16 October 1918 to furlough and reported to L’moor Camp.
His mother, as next of kin, was sent letters on him being wounded and in hospital on 4 September 1916, 12 September 1916, 21 March 1917 and 28 June 1918. Copies of the letters are not in his service records.
Percy returned to Australia on 28 May 1919 on Port Macquarie. His mother was notified of his return on 17 April 1919. The nominal roll records his return as 28 March 1919 (obviously an error) and enlistment as 1 May 1915. It also has his rank as Private. He was discharged on 27 July 1919 in the 1st Military District.
A file for him is at NAA Queensland under ARTHUR, Percy Acrill – Service Number – 5 [File Cover Only] J26 M21859. The date range is 1919 – 1922. Presumably it is his medical file, which was then sent to NSW.
In the 1919 electoral roll for Toowoomba, Percy was recorded as ‘care of Fredlien, Gowrie rd.’ and was a blacksmith. Percy is listed on the Toowoomba Railway Roll of Honour Board 1914-1919, which included 559 names. He is listed under the name Arthur PN.
Mr P A Arthur embarked on Orsova at Sydney in 3rd Class, arriving at London on 6 November 1920. He was listed as a 25-year-old blacksmith and intended to return to Australia to live there permanently.
On 1 January 1921 Percy Acrill Arthur, a 25-year-old bachelor, married Ivy Maude Boyden, a 20-year-old spinster at Christ Church North Brixton, in the Parish of Lambeth in the County of London according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church. He was recorded as a blacksmith and she had no occupation. Both were residing at 44 St Lawrence St SW9 at the time. Fathers were listed as John Acrill Arthur (deceased), a blacksmith and John William Boyden, an army pensioner. Banns had been previously called on Sunday 5 December, 12 December and 19 December 1920. Ivy had been born on 26 June 1900 in Floriana Malta.
Ivy’s parents were John William and Annie Gertrude Boyden. John served in WW1 as SSM, Acting RSM in the Army Service Corps, service number S2/SR/04402. He had home service only and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Previously he had served in the Army Service Corps as Staff Sergeant Major 5144, as recorded in a Royal Hospital Chelsea admission form, which was dated 31 December 1908 and a discharge date of 7 January (presumably 1909). One of her brothers, George Frederick Boyden served in WW1, enlisting on 19 November 1914 with the 6th (Reserve) London Brigade RFA as Driver 955763. George was appointed Lance Bombardier, then promoted to Bombardier and then to Corporal before discharge in 1919. He was awarded the Military Medal in WW1, with the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.
They both departed London on Commonwealth and arrived in Sydney on 4 July 1921.
Percy and Ivy had two boys. Acril Idress Boyden Arthur was born on 17 October 1921 in Hamilton NSW (23 Elcho Street). He married Maud Elizabeth Emma Anderson on 22 January 1944. Marine engineer was his occupation. Acril died on 10 January 1967. He had been living at 96 Menangle Road Camden. Alroy Clyde Bowden Arthur was born on 23 March 1925 in Adamstown. He married Christina Lucy Bolton (1926-1997) before 1947. Alroy served in WW2, enlisting as 444316 in the RAAF on 12 February 1944 and being discharged on 22 August 1947 as a Leading Aircraftman with ‘EAHQ TD&R ARCH’. His service record is open but not yet online. He died on 10 September 1994. Alroy and Christina had three children, one of whom was Desmond Clyde Arthur, born 12 February 1947 in Cairns. He served in the Vietnam War as Private 1733261 in the 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment from 21 May 1968 to 3 December 1968. He died in December 2005.
By the 1930 electoral roll Percy and Ivy were living at Joan Street Adamstown in Newcastle, and Percy was a blacksmith with Ivy doing home duties. The same details were recorded in the 1932 roll. In the 1934 roll, the division name had changed, but their details were all the same. The same details were in the 1935, 1936 and 1937 rolls. There was no change during WW2 as recorded in the 1943 roll. By the 1963 roll, they had moved to 587 Glebe Road Adamstown and Percy had a change of occupation to tool smith. The same details were recorded in the 1968 roll.
587 Glebe Road Adamstown.
Base Records sent files of the service records of Percy on 21 October 1937 to the Repatriation commission in Sydney after their request on 14 October asking for them, but it noted that AF B103 was not available.
On 23 March 1967 Percy wrote to the ‘Secretary Dept of the Army Dear Sir, I hereby make an application for the medallion to be issued to members who served on Gallipoli during 1915. No. 5 P.A. ARTHUR. SGT on discharge. 26 Battalion AIF. Served on Gallipoli Sept to Dec 1915. Enlisted at Toowoomba Qld 1915 Discharged at Maryborough Qld 1919 At present living at 587 Glebe Rd. Adamstown NSW. Yours faithfully Percy A Arthur. Register No. U.407 Dis No. 148094’. It was received by the Army Registry in Canberra on 29 March 1967.
Central Army Records Office in Melbourne sent Percy a letter on 10 April 1967, advising him that ‘In reference to your application for the Gallipoli Medallion and Lapel badge, it is regretted that no record is held at this Office of your Service in Gallipoli. It would assist in establishing your eligibility if you could complete the attached Statutory Declaration before one of the persons listed in Note 2 at the foot of the Declaration, and return it to this office promptly.’
Meanwhile, Percy also wrote a letter to ‘The Officer in Charge, Army Records Section A Block Albert Park Barracks’ again applying for the Gallipoli medallion, giving all the details he put in his first letter and also including ‘4 years 66 days active service’. He sent the letter to them, as he explained ‘My first action on this matter was that I had to make an application to the Secretary of the Army Canberra, which I did, & I don’t know if my application was sent on to you or not so really this is a duplicate request.’
Percy filled out the Statutory Declaration on 13 April stating ‘I, Percy Acrill Arthur, 587 Glebe Rd. Adamstown NSW Retired do solemnly and sincerely declare that I served in the Gallipoli Campaign as a member of the Australian Forces, and that the following particulars of my service there are correct to the best of my knowledge: a. Name of ship from which I landed at Gallipoli (was not stated) b. Date of landing at Gallipoli 12th Sept 1915. c. Unit or units I served with on Gallipoli 26th Btn. d. Name of ship on which I left Gallipoli Abbassia e. Date of my departure from Gallipoli mid Dec 1915 f. My commanding officer at this time was Coy Commander Major McDunold or O’Donald. Batn Commander I believe LtCol Ferguson was still in charge.’ Percy declared that the statements were true and correct and were declared at Hamilton on 13 April and witnessed by T Fitzgerald JP.
Also on 13 April 1967, Percy wrote a letter to Central Army Records Office stating ‘Further to my claim regards my entitlement claim for the medallion etc. for those who served on Gallipoli, I wish to state that I left Alexandria near the end of August 1915 on the Troopship Northland, when we got near Lemnos Island I was transferred to a smaller Vessel & taken to Gallipoli, landed there 12th Sept 1915 After I left Gallipoli about the middle of Dec 15 on the S.S. “Abbasia” (probably SS Abbassia) which took me to Lemnos Island, after some days there I embarked on S.S. “Horroato” (probably HMAT A20 Hororata) which took me back to Egypt. Trusting by this you have found further records of my claim’. The letter was also signed by a JP.
The Gallipoli Legion Club of Beaumont Street Hamilton NSW wrote to the Officer in Charge of Army Records in Melbourne on 23 April 1968 asking ‘Re: Percy Acrill ARTHUR Regimental No. 5, Date of Attestation 1st. May, 1915. Date of Discharge 27th. May, 1919. 26th Batt. A.I.F. Would you please advise whether Mr. Arthur served at Gallipoli. Yours faithfully, H. C. LAWRENCE Secretary/Manager.’ Their reply written on 1 May 1968 listed his full name and service details and said ‘According to records held at this office, the abovenamed served at Gallipoli during the 1914/18 war.
Percy Acrill Arthur passed away in January 1972 in Adamstown Newcastle, and was cremated on 11 January 1972. His ashes are located in Newcastle Memorial Park in the section Loggia 12/2 N/10.
Percy’s ashes are beside his wife, Ivy, who died on 29 November 1992 and son Acril Idris Arthur.
His medals are 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, and Gallipoli Medallion. It was awarded in 1967 to recognise 50 years since the campaign.
Percy is also remembered on the memorial roll of honour for Queensland Railways Toowoomba employees 1914-1919. The names of 559 rail workers who fought in World War I are listed on the memorial at Toowoomba Railway Station. This memorial is heritage-listed and is recognised as one of Australia’s significant war memorials. The board was designed by a railway architect and built at the Ipswich railway workshops and unveiled in April 1918. He is in the middle section, in the 4th column below 1919, 12th from the top, as Arthur P.N. (in error).
Picture of Percy during the war as a Sergeant. Note 1914-15 Star ribbon and 4 wound stripes.
With thanks to Jay D’Souza for supplying information on Percy and A Company, 26th Battalion, as recorded in Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/136892
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.