Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Powley Denny was born in 1893 in Wycheproof to David Edward Denney and Margaret Abbott (married 1890). David and Margaret had seven other children: Alexander (b. 1891),  Mary (b. 1895), David (b. 1897, died shortly after birth), Bessie (b. 1899), Margaret (b. 1900), Alexander (b. 1891) and Cealie (b. 1902). Powley Denney attended Bolinda School sometime between 1899 and 1913 along with his siblings Bessie, Margaret, and Mary.

At the time of enlisting, Powley Denney was working as a farmer in Wycheproof. He  attended signal school in Broadmeadows where he trained to be a signaler. He embarked for Egypt in May 1916 aboard the “Uganda”. In late 1916, he was appointed a driver. In  January 1917, he was transferred to the 1st Signal Squadron.  In October 1918, he contracted malaria and was admitted to hospital in Port Said due to a number of relapses. Two months after his initial diagnosis, Powley was still suffering from an enlarged and tender spleen, anemia and debilitating “tremors of the tongue”, and was underweight. At first it  was recommended that he go on leave for three months, but one month later, the Medical Board on Finalization recommended he be discharged as permanently unfit for service. He returned to Australia aboard the “Corsova” in February 1919 and was discharged from the armed forces two months later.

Shortly after returning from war, Powley married Violet Nellie Glover in 1919 with whom he had a son, Powley Samuel Denney. Powley and Violet continued living in Wycheproof  after their marriage and Powley returned to farming and grazing. Their son Powley Samuel followed in his father’s footsteps and also took up farming. Powley and Violet lived  together in Wycheproof until her death in 1947, and Powley remained in the area until his death in 1964.