Percy Fleming
From Our Contribution
 The Westralia Battalion N Browning page 333 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1889 |
| Place of Birth | Ballarat, Victoria |
| Death | 1 Feb 1956 |
| Place of Death | Wembley, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 26 years, 7 months |
| Description |
5'5" (1.65m) tall ; 145 lbs 65.771 kg ; fair complexion ; light blue eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Mill hand |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Olive Katherine Fleming |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 435 |
| Date of Enlistment | 18 Jan 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 44th Battalion, B Company /11th Brigade, 3rd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 6 Jun 1916 ‒ 21 Jul 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A29 Suevic |
| Date of Return | 1 Jun 1919 ‒ 8 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 10 Jul 1917 Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
In 1913 Percy married Olive Katherine Howe.
War Service
Ten days after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Percy was reallocated from the 44th Depot Company to the newly formed 44th Battalion's 'B' Company. Following further training at Larkhill in England after their arrival in the UK, the battalion proceeded overseas from England to France through Southampton on 25 Nov 1916.
Percy was Wounded in Action on 10 Jul 1917 while in the front lines near Messines. Treated first by the 11th Field Ambulance, he was passed back the same day to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station who placed him aboard Ambulance Train No. 7. The next day he was admitted to the 32nd Stationary Hospital in Wimereux. Five days later he was sent to the 1st Convalescent Depot in Boulogne, and on 29 Jul 1917 he was released to the 3rd Division's Base Depot in Le Havre.
Percy rejoined the 44th Battalion on 20 Aug 1917, but required hospitalisation with the 8th Field Ambulance in France from 4 Oct 1917 till 23 Oct 1917 for pharyngitis. From 18 Nov until 4 Dec 1917 he was detached to the Engineers. He remained with the 44th Battalion until 10 May 1918 when he marched out for duty with the 3rd Division Train.
From 19 Jan - 2 Feb 1919 he was granted leave to England, and returned to the 44th Battalion to serve another two months in France before returning to England on 8 Apr 1919 to undergo processing by No 3 Group at Codford for return to Australia. While waiting to return home he was picked up an AWOL charge, from midnight 3 May 1919 until 1:00pm on 5 May 1919. For this he was admonished and he forfeited 2 days pay. Along with many other locals Percy travelled home on SS Somali, disembarking in Fremantle on 8 Jul 1919. Percy was discharged by the 5th Military District on 22 Aug 1919.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 at 243 Marmion street, Cottesloe, tallyman; 1931 at 14 Burt street, Cottesloe, clerk; 1936 - 1937 at 86 Napier street, Cottesloe; 1943 - 1954 a storekeeper at 40 Richardson street, West Perth.
Olive died 7 Sep 1965 in Bellvue. From 1943 her address was different from Percy's. Children were Beryl Eileen (1913-1981); Sylvia Mary (1916- ?); Moira Katharine (1920-1999); Mervyn John (1924-2007); Leonie Margaret (1928-2004); and one other daughter.
Notes