Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Below is the text from one of many articles written about the court martial of Percival. His court martial in 1940 was widely reported in the press Australia wide. Percival is my Grandfather's youngest brother.
This is from the Townsville Bulletin Saturday 7 December Page 5

AIRCRAFTMAN BEFORE COURT MARTIAL.

SYDNEY. December 6.— A full district court martial of the Royal Australian Air Force at Woolloomooloo found Percival Reed, a first-class aircraftman, guilty of having broken the King's regulations by sending a letter of complaint to the Attorney General (Mr. Hughes). He was acquitted on an alternative charge of contravention of Section 153 of the Air Force regulations. The President of the Court was Wing-Commander M. O. Watson. The letter which Reed sent to Mr. Hughes asked the latter to support Reed's appeal to the Prime Minister for his discharge from the R.A.A.F, which he had been induced to join by false pretences. He claimed that it had been proposed to post him to Richmond, although he had joined as a clerk, and was a returned soldier. A guard wearing side arms marched Reed into the court. He is grey-haired, and wore ribbons from the last war. It was revealed in evidence that Reed had complained to his commanding officer about being badly treated by the educational officer at the Wooloomooloo recruiting centre (Flight Lieut. McLeod), and had written to the commanding officer: "If this officer had treated me on active service as he has treated me at this depot I would have shot his heart out." CANBERRA, December 6— 'I knew nothing about the court martial of Aircraftsman Percival Reed until I read it in the Press to-day,' said Mr. Hughes in the House of Representatives today. It was alleged at the court martial at Sydney yesterday, that Reed had written to Mr. Hughes on October 15 to get his discharge from the R.A.A.F because he had been enlisted under 'false pretences.' Mr. Beasley asked Mr. Hughes today if he were aware Reed was
reported to have been court martialled because he had brought under the notice of the Attorney-General and other authorities, the need for remedying certain grievances and also if Mr. Hughes approved of this action. Mr. Hughes said: I have no recollection of any letter. I certainly, did not take any action, nor do I consider it right to take action, against a soldier who wrote a letter to me, even if, strictly speaking, he should not have written it."