75894
BROKENSHIRE, Percy
| Service Number: | 776 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 December 1914, 3rd Reinforcements - Oaklands / Warradale SA |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moonta, Copper Coast - South Australia, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Moonta, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Moonta Public School |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | War related, Adelaide, South Australia, 26 April 1941, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: LO, Road: BN, Site No: 8 |
| Memorials: | Moonta Corporation of The Town of Moonta Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 776, 9th Light Horse Regiment, 3rd Reinforcements - Oaklands / Warradale SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 776, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Pera embarkation_ship_number: A4 public_note: '' | |
| 20 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 776, 9th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Evacuated November 1915 with Enteric Fever - to UK Beaufort War Hospital Fishponds BRISTOL | |
| 11 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 776, 50th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line | |
| 17 Feb 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 776, 50th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines | |
| 25 Jun 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 30 Jul 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 776, 50th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres | |
| 27 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 27 Mar 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 776, 50th Infantry Battalion, Dernancourt/Ancre | |
| 24 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 776, 50th Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux | |
| 18 Jun 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 776, 50th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days" | |
| 21 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 776, 50th Infantry Battalion, 4th MD - TPE | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 776, 9th Light Horse Regiment |
Help us honour Percy Brokenshire's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Percy Brokenshire was born in April 1893 at Moonta, South Australia, to Nicholas George Brokenshire and Catherine Cathew Miners. He belonged to a large working-class family of 14 children and hailed from a town that was renowned for copper mines.
Percy received his primary education at Moonta Public School receiving a IV Class certificate in June 1906. Prior to enlistment he was working as a Butcher. A job that is physically demanding that not only requires strength and stamina but also a high degree of precision.
On the 3rd of December 1914, Percy enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Oaklands Barracks, South Australia, after the start of World War 1. Percy was assigned the rank Private and placed into the 3rd reinforcement of the 9th Light Horse Regiment. His initial training focused on basic skills including marching, discipline and rifle drill. As part of the Light Horse Regiment, Percy also underwent specialized cavalry training in addition to infantry training.
Percy and his regiment sailed for Egypt aboard the HMAT Pera on February 8th, 1915. He arrived in England and was posted to Weymouth for base detail. He proceeded overseas to France 1st December 1916 on SS Prince Merrietta from Folkestone. He served in France but was often in trouble due to being absent from camp and gambling. He received several punishments. His records indicate that he married Ethel Gladys from Bristol on 3rd January 1916 which could explain why he was often absent from his unit.
In June 1917, Percy fought in the Battle of Messines, where the Allies strategically detonated massive underground mines beneath German positions, resulting in a significant breakthrough. The success of the battle allowed the infantry, including Percy’s unit, to advance under more favourable conditions. His steady performance and leadership potential led to his promotion to Lance Corporal on June 25, 1917.
During the Third Battle of Ypres (July–November 1917), Percy endured the brutal conditions of Menin Road and Polygon Wood, where constant artillery fire and relentless rain transformed the battlefield into a treacherous swamp of mud and blood. Despite the horrors of war, Percy displayed remarkable composure and resilience, which earned him a promotion to Corporal on October 27, 1917.
In April 1918, Percy fought in the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, a decisive engagement that saw Australian forces successfully repel the German Spring Offensive. His ability to remain steadfast under fire and lead his men in counterattacks played a crucial role in securing victory, further solidifying his reputation as a dependable soldier.
By June 18, 1918, Percy’s continued bravery and leadership skills resulted in his promotion to Sergeant. He then took part in the Hundred Days Offensive (August–November 1918), the final Allied campaign that led to Germany’s surrender. Engaged in relentless battles, Percy and his battalion pushed forward against the retreating German forces, contributing to the war’s decisive conclusion.
Following the end of the war, Percy returned to Australia along with his wife Ethel and their first born child. He was officially discharged from the AIF on September 21, 1919. Percy had two brothers who also served, William James who was killed in action at Lone Pine on 6th August 1915 and Harry who was killed in action 13th September 1918.
Percy’s love of horses and gambling continued and he was employed by a betting shop after the war and also successfully breed horses for racing. He died on April 26, 1941, at the age of 48, and was buried at West Terrace Cemetery.
References
Australian War Memorial (n.d.) 100 days: The Australian contribution to the Allied victory on the Western Front in 1918. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51043 [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Australian War Memorial (n.d.) Battle of Messines. Available at: https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/western-front/battle-of-messines [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Australian War Memorial (n.d.) Collection C352198. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C352198 [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Australian War Memorial (n.d.) Collection E84343. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84343 [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Australian War Memorial (n.d.) Collection U51490. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51490 [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Beaufort War Hospital (n.d.) Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_War_Hospital [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Britannica (n.d.) World War I. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I [Accessed 15 March 2025].
FamilySearch (n.d.) Australia Genealogy Resources. Available at: https://www.familysearch.org/en/australia/ [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Trove (n.d.) National Library of Australia Database. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/ [Accessed 15 March 2025].
The World War Museum (n.d.) Hundred Days Offensive. Available at: https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/hundred-days-offensive [Accessed 15 March 2025].
The World War Museum (n.d.) The National World War I Museum and Memorial. Available at: https://www.theworldwar.org/ [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (n.d.) Australian military ranks. Available at: https://www.vvaa.org.au/rank.htm [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Virtual War Memorial Australia (n.d.) 13th Australian Infantry Battalion – Virtual War Memorial. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/68 [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Virtual War Memorial Australia (n.d.) The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/21#:~:text=These%20were%20all%20so-called,the%2013th%20Brigade%20in%20Reserve. [Accessed 15 March 2025].
Click images to start slideshow.