POWELL, Percy John
| Service Numbers: | W4879, WX30317 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 September 1940, 5 AA Battery |
| Last Rank: | Bombardier |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Armadale, Western Australia, 4 April 1907 |
| Home Town: | Armadale, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Byford Primary School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Mundijong, Armadale, Western Australia, 17 July 1993, aged 86 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fremantle Cemetery, Western Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 11 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, W4879, 5 AA Battery | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, WX30317 | |
| 2 Aug 1942: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, W4879, 5 AA Battery | |
| 22 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombadier, WX30317, 554 Australian LAA Battery | |
| 27 Mar 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombadier, WX30317, ex Townsville to Merauke per Gorgon | |
| 30 Oct 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombadier, WX30317, ex Merauke to Brisbane per Thedens | |
| 6 Aug 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombadier, WX30317, ex Brisbane to Torokina per HMAS Westralia | |
| 28 Nov 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombadier, WX30317, ex Torokina to Brisbane per HMAS Westralia | |
| 20 Dec 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Bombardier, WX30317 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Percy was born in 1907 in Wongong, Armadale WA - the sixth of eight children (and youngest of five sons) of Frederick Elijah Powell (b1864 in Norfolk, England) and Miniie Amelia Mears (b1873 in London, England). Frederick was a Sheep Herder/Farm Labourer in Norfolk before immigrating, and in 1899 he and Minnie married in Guildford WA. They settled in Wongong, Armadale WA where they farmed cattle, oats, barley and vegetables. In 1903 Frederick won the Armadale ploughing competition - neatest and straightest ploughing. With no Doctor locally, all eight children were birthed by a Midwife - and Minnie attended to any medical emergencies - 'Mum had a great big medical book, she used to go by that' (Percy; 1992). Any travel and shopping was done with a horse and sulky and the three eldest children attended Armadale Primary School while Percy and the younger children went to Byford Primary School. The three eldest sons - Freddy, Bert and Harry all served in WWI.
Percy worked as a Labourer in Armadale WA and in September 1940 enlisted in the ACMF (Sergeant; Service No:W4879). He was attached to 5 LAA Battery when he Discharged in August 1942 to enlist in the AIF (Bombardier; Service No:WX30317). Percy served in New Guinea (23 March 1944 - 28 October 1944) and Bougainville (6 August 1945 - 25 November 1945). he was attached to 544 Australian LAA Battery when he was Discharged in December 1945. Brother Len also served in WWII.
Returning to Armadale WA, Percy worked as a Labourer and in 1964 married Gwendoline (Mary) Champion (nee Ward, b1910 in Worcestershire, England) - Mary (a Widow) was working as a Draper's Assistant. Mary had immigrated with her parents and siblings in 1923 and settled at Bedfordale. As a youngster, Mary milked cows, undertook ploughing and delivered milk by horse and cart to Armadale Railway Station. During WWII Mary was a volunteer plane spotter, keeping watch from Armadale Town Hall. Percy and Mary settled in Mundijong, Armadale WA. Percy died in 1993 and Mary in 2016.
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