POULTER, Percy John
| Service Number: | 237 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tramway Employee |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 237, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 237, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne |
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Percy Poulter was a 23 year old tramway employee when he enlisted into the 6th Battalion in August 1914, stating that he was born in Richmond Victoria. I don’t believe he was related to Reginald Poulter who was also awarded a Russian medal during the War. He states that he had previous service with the Victorian Rifles for 18 months. He was wounded in Action in 1917 and was discharged in Melbourne in 1918. He was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. there is an interesting letter in his service record from a Mrs B Sutherland to the Defence Dept in August 1955 asking for information of his where abouts. In it she states she is looking for him as relations in Canada are enquiring about his where abouts, she also claims he was a VC winner during the War.
Percy was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal however this was downgraded to the Russian Cross of St George 4th Class, his citation reads:
"Private Poulter was senior stretcher-bearer of ‘B’ Company during the action at POZIERES on the 25-27th July 1916. He constantly moved between the front line and First Aid Post – a distance of about a mile – through heavy barrages. As the senior man of the squad he took his stretcher parties all over the position and from it cleared the wounded and attended to man of other units when his own men had been removed. Many of his squad had become casualties but he kept the work going by taking and organising auxiliary squads and taking charge of them. He continued his work without a break for 48 hours or so until he collapsed from physical exhaustion".