Percy Morris

Percy Morris (Service No 2940) was born in Sydney, N.S.W.

In 1902, he married Ann Bowen, at Newtown, N.S.W. and they had five children.

At enlistment, he was 33 years old, worked as a bootmaker and lived in Helensburgh, N.S.W. Percy had also served 2 years in the Militia.

He embarked on HMAT A11 Ascanius, with 53rd Battalion, 7th Reinforcement, on 25th October 1916. Percy arrived in England on 28th December 1916, and joined 20th Battalion in France, on 23rd March 1917. He saw service on the Western Front and was admitted to hospital in France and Belgium during 1917 and 1918.

Percy had a number of charges against him and this resulted in a six month sentence of hard labour. 

He was back with his unit, for the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin, France, where his actions earned him the Military Medal. During the battle, Percy received gun shot wounds to his right thigh and was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment.

The recommendation for the Military Medal reads, "On 31st August, 1918, in the operations at MONT ST.QUENTIN, North East of PERONNE, this soldier acted as runner. He frequently carried despatches to H.Q. throughout the day under very heavy M.G. fire. He also rendered very valuable assistance by attending to wounded under rifle and machine gun fire. He was the last to leave the position when the Battalion withdrew and fell back to the main line firing at the enemy as he went. He was wounded during the withdrawal but remained at duty till the Battalion moved back in relief"

Recommended 7th September 1918, Awarded 17th June 1919.

Percy returned to Australia, in August 1919, and discharged on 27th February 1920.

In 1940, Percy was living and working at a brick pit in Parkes, N.S.W. On 7th January 1940, he fell 62 feet to his death, at the bottom of the brick pit.