Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Awarded the Military Medal (www.awm.gov.au)

"For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in charge of patrols near HOLLEBEKE on night 27th February 1918. He carried out a daring reconnaissance of the enemy positions on night of 27th February over most difficult ground and under heavy enemy machine gun fire, and on another occasion he crawled through the enemy's wire to obtain information of an enemy post. During our tour of duty in the line from the night 20th/21st February to 1st/2nd March, 1918 Sergeant McCoy was on patrol every night. His conduct under most trying conditions was a splendid example to the men under his charge. This N.C.O. has always been conspicuous in action for his coolness and good leadership. It was entirely due to the cool daring of patrol leaders that we were enabled to deny No Man's Land to enemy and to furnish good information of enemy dispositions to higher formations."                 Source:'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 120 Date: 7 August 1918 

Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (www.awm.gov.au)

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out several daring reconnaissances both day and night.Again and again he proved himself a very able patrol leader and obtained most valuable information on patrol. As a platoon sergeant, he has proved himself very capable, and has set an excellent example to his men throughout."                                 Source:'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15 Date: 4 Febuary 1919          

 "Yesterday's Welcome Home

LIEUT. P. McCOY.

Lieut. P. McCoy, D.C.M., M.M, was the other distinguished officer on the train. He attested at Toowoomba in 1915, and linked up with the 15th Battalion. He took his share of the fighting in France and was wounded in the shoulder and the leg at Pozieres. Asked to state how he came to win the decorations, he said that he thought he gained them some time last year — probably between February and April. He would go no further, however. His people live in South Australia and it is worthy of note that he travelled all the way from that State to Toowoomba to enlist. Lieut. McCoy was a friend of the late Lieut. George Sellars, of Toowoomba, who gave his life for his country." from Darling Downs Gazette 25 Sep 1919 (nla.gov.au) 

Percival (Percy) was the tenth of twelve children of James Coy (later McCoy, born 1847 in Ireland) and Mary Jane Reid (born 1858 in Wirabara,South Australia). James arrived in South Australia in 1865 on board the Burlington. He was a Groom in 1874 when he married Mary in Melrose, South Australia. By 1894 the family had moved to Port Augusta where James was a Labourer. Mary died in 1908, and James was a Ferryman at Port Augusta when he drowned in 1910.

In 1914 Percy was Stockman when he enlisted in the AIF at Toowoomba, QLD. He was WiA in France, and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. Percy was a Lieutenant (Service No:5473) with 15th Infantry Battalion when he was Discharged in November 1919. In WWII (October 1939 - December 1946), Percy served with 62 Infantry Battalion (Service Nos:QX44586/Q185020) and was a Captain when he was Discharged. Brother James was a Captain with 43rd Infantry Battalion in WWI and served with the ACMF (Lieutenant, Service No:S68346) in WWII.

Returning to QLD, Percy worked as a Labourer in Warwick and a Farm Labourer at Killarney on the Darling Downs. He was a Commission Agent in Brisbane when he married Lillian (Molly) Mary Elizabeth Mitchell (nee Hanson, born 1905 in Gympie, QLD) in 1926. Percy and Molly lived at Buranda and Woolongabba in QLD where Percy was an Insurance Agent. Following his service in WWII, Percy and Molly continued to live in Brisbane where Percy worked as a Clerk. Percy died in 1973 and Molly in 1977.

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