Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in 1887 Payneham, South Australia, Percival Harold Loader was a son of Mr Timothy Loader and Mrs Hannah Loader, his parents lived together on 20 Morris Street, Saint Peter's, Adelaide. Percival was the youngest of four children in the family. Percival attended East Adelaide Public School, South Australia where he received his education, growing up to become a saddler, who made and repaired saddlery as an occupation. Percival believed in a Methodist religion, he lived on Thomas Lane off Zebina Street, Broken Hill, New South Wales alone, and his marital status was single.

Percival was an Anzac soldier who fought for the Australian Imperial Force. Percival fought in the First World War, which began on the 28th of July 1914 and concluded on the 11th of November 1918. Percival also fought battles in Gallipoli and on the Western Front. Percival received three medals for fighting in World War One, these medals included the 1914-15-star medal, the British War medal, and the Victory Medal.

Percival was not the only male from his family who was in the military he had his two brothers who also went to the war. Clifford Roy Loader, was in the 1st pioneer Battalion, and returned to Australia, on the 22nd of December 1919 and his other brother Frank Olivier Loader, was in the 32nd battalion, died in action, on the 20th of July 1916, Frank was reported missing.

He enlisted on the 25th of January and was ranked Private. Percival entered the 21st battalion, headquarters unit. The 21st battalion arrived in Egypt in June 1915 as part of the newly raised 2nd Australian division

At embarkation Percival was 27 years of age, Percival embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, he was on board a ship known as HMAT A38 Ulysses on the 10th of May 1915. Percival's Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll number was known to be 23/38/1. They then proceeded to Gallipoli in late August, this was an eventful trip for the battalion arriving at Anzac cove on the 7th of September.

After evacuation from Gallipoli in December 1915, the 21st battalion arrived back in France. At this time Percival was transferred to the 5th Field Company Engineers.

A further transfer, in France, followed and Percy joined the 8th Field C ompany Engineers. 

Engineers had the job of building and maintaining infrastructure, field defences and machines to improve the mobility of friendly forces, and to impair the mobility of the enemy.  ensure success in the battle. Percival was ranked a sapper, a sapper is the equivalent of a private in the  engineers.  The term comes from 'sap' meaning to construct a trench.  Their role  includes a variety of military engineering duties which included constructing the lines of defence, temporary bridging, tunnels and trenches, observation posts, roads, railways, communication lines, buildings of all kinds, showers and bathing facilities and other material and mechanical solutions to the problems associated with fighting.

Percy died of wounds  on the 20th of August 1916, from wounds he received in the battles around Pozieres / Mouquet Farm. Percival died at the age of 29 after something less than 2 years service.  Percival is now buried in Estaires, Communal Cemetery and Extension, Nord Pas de Calais, France, Lot II, Row H and Grave number 10.