PENKETH, Percy James
| Service Number: | 2506 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Forest Lodge, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Balmoral, Mosman, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds - Gassed, Cheltenham Area Hospital, Gloucestershire, England , 29 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, Prestbury, England N 9287 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2506, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2506, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 29 Apr 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2506, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2506 awm_unit: 17th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-04-29 |
Help us honour Percy James Penketh's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of James and Eva PENKETH
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Percy James Penketh was born in 1891 at Forest Lodge, Sydney, NSW to parents James William & Eva Eliza Alma Penketh (nee Moffitt).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 2nd August, 1915 as a 24 year old, single, Labourer from Esta Road, Balmoral Beach, NSW.
Private Percy James Penketh, Service number 2506, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 5th October, 1915 with the 17th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements & disembarked at Egypt.
He embarked from Alexandria on 17th March, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 23rd March, 1916.
A Board of Inquiry Decision was made on 19th August, 1916 (date as listed in Statement of Service form) that Private P. J. Penketh was wounded & missing.
Private Percy James Penketh was wounded in action in France on 25th August, 1916. He was admitted to Corps Collecting Station on 25th August, 1916 with shrapnel wounds to arm. Private Penketh was transferred & admitted to 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 27th August, 1916 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to left arm. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship Jan Brydel on 28th August, 1916.
On 29th August, 1916 Private Penketh was admitted to 2nd K. G. H. Leeds, (Statement of Service form records the Hospital at 2nd Northern General Hospital) England with shrapnel wounds to left arm. He was discharged to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 21st September, 1916 from 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital.
He was granted furlough from No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire England from 23rd September, 1916.
Private Penketh proceeded overseas to France on 11th November, 1916 from 5th Training Battalion. He was marched in to 2nd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 13th November, 1916, Private Penketh rejoined his Battalion in France on 24th November, 1916.
He was 1. AWL (Absent without leave) from 2.30 pm on 8th December, 1916 to 12 noon on 9th December, 1916 – 21 ½ hours while posted in France & 2. AWL (Absent without leave) from 2 pm on 9th December, 1916 to 7 pm on 9th December, 1916 – 5 hours. He was awarded 10 days F.P. (Field Punishment) No. 2 & forfeited a total of 12 days’ pay.
From 3rd May, 1917 Private Penketh was appointed Lance Corporal to complete establishment while posted with 17th Battalion in France.
Lance Corporal Percy James Penketh was AWL (Absent without leave) from 5 am on 5th July, 1917 till 5 pm on 6th July, 1917. His punishment was reduced to rank of Private & forfeited 2 days’ pay from 12th July, 1917.
He was appointed Lance Corporal to complete establishment from 25th September, 1917 while posted with 17th Battalion in France.
Lance Corporal Percy James Penketh was wounded in action in France (2nd occasion) on 17th April, 1918. He was admitted to 20th Casualty Clearing Station on 17th April, 1918 having been gassed (shell) then transferred to Ambulance Train on 18th April, 1918. Lance Corporal Penketh was admitted to 9th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 19th April, 1918. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle on 21st April, 1918.
He was admitted to Voluntary Aid Hospital – 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Bristol on 22nd April, 1918 & was reported as dangerously ill.
The Hospital Admissions form records that Lance Corporal Percy James Penketh was admitted to Priory Hospital, Cheltenham, England on 22nd April, 1918.
Lance Corporal Percy James Penketh died at 12.30 am on 29th April, 1918 at Cheltenham Area Hospital, Gloucestershire, England from wounds – Gassed. The Hospital Admissions form records that Lance Corporal Percy James Penketh died of cardiac failure & double Pneumonia. A Cablegram to Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., London advised that “2506 Lance Corporal Penketh 17th A.I.F. died 12.30 am Brother present.”
He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/cheltenham.html
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