Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Percy was the son of Edwin EMERY & Susannah Margaret DAULBY and was born on the 27th of March 1896 in Yatala Plains, SA.

His parents were married on the 22nd of September 1879 in South Australia.

His father was the son of Charles EMERY & Harriett PLUMMER and was born on the 12th of April 1855 in Hindmarsh, SA.
His mother was the daughter of Henry DAULBY & Susannah CHEESEMAN and was born on the 28th of October 1861 in Pt Adelaide, SA.

Percy was the seventh child born into this family of 9 children.

His father was a carter and by 1900 the family had moved to Clarke Street, Rosewater.

Percy went to school in Rosewater and on leaving school he gained employment as a labourer and joined the 76th Infantry Battalion (Hindmarsh).

At the age of 19, Percy enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 22nd of February 1915 in Keswick, SA and allotted the service number 552 and posted to J Company, Base Infantry in Oaklands Camp.

On the 16th of March he was transferred to C Company, Base Infantry and then on the 7th of April he was posted to the newly raised 27th Battalion, C Company in Ascot Park Camp.

Percy embarked from Adelaide on the 31st of May 1915 on board HMAT A2 Geelong and disembarked in Pt Suez on the 6th of July.
He trained at Aerodrome Camp and embarked for Lemnos on the 4th of September and landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 13th.

On the 26th of September Percy suffered from Myalgia & a sprained back and was admitted into the 7th Field Ambulance for 4 days before returning to his Battalion.
Three days later Percy was still suffering from Myalgia & a sprained back and was readmitted into the 7th Field Ambulance, transferred to ANZAC Beach and then evacuated to Malta.

On the 31st of October Percy was evacuated to England on board HS Regina and admitted into the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford on the 12th of November.

Percy embarked from England on the 11th of March 1916 on board HT Suevic and whilst on board the transport he celebrated his 20th Birthday.

Percy disembarked in Adelaide on the 23rd of April 1916 and was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 27th of June 1916.

He gained employment as a railway porter with the South Australian Railways and the following month Percy married Doris Ivy HILL on the 26th of July 1916 in St Paul’s Church, Pt Adelaide.
Doris was the daughter of Herbert Thomas HILL & Agatha Ellen GILL and was born on the 28th of February 1895 in Queenstown, SA.

They made their first home in Canning Street, Rosewater with Doris’s parents and welcomed their first child; Percy Herbert, on the 15th of April 1917.
The following year, Colin Ralph was born on the 13th of May 1918, but sadly he died the following day and they buried him in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section L, Drive C, Path 17, Site Number 216N.

Doris died the following year on the 18th of March 1919 and Percy buried her in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section L, Drive C, Path 17, Site Number 216S, with Colin.
Six weeks later little Percy, died on the 2nd of May 1919 in the Mereebra Hospital in Woodville and Percy buried him in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section L, Drive C, Path 17, Site Number 216N, with Doris and little Colin.

Percy joined the Alberton/Rosewater RSL Sub-Branch and on the 25th of August 1923 he married Elsie May NAGEL at the residence of Elsie’s parents in Unley.
Elsie was the daughter of Charles Henry NAGEL & Emily Eveline BOWLEY and was born in 1894 in Heathcote, VIC.

They made their home at 7 Turton Street, Semaphore and welcomed Jack into the family on the 1st of June 1924, followed by Maxwell James on the 20th of April 1926.

With the outbreak of WW2 his son Jack enlisted into the 1st Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps on the 11th of June 1942 (S85017).
Maxwell then enlisted into the RAN on the 19th of June 1944 (PA4727).

Elsie died in the Adelaide Hospital on the 31st of August 1949 and Percy buried her in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section B, Drive A, Path 2, Site Number 21BN.

Percy died on the 11th of August 1966 and was buried 2 days later in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section B, Drive A, Path 2, Site Number 21BN, with Elsie.

Military

At the age of 19, Percy enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 22nd of February 1915 in Keswick, SA and allotted the service number 552 and posted to J Company, Base Infantry in Oaklands Camp.
He listed his mother, of Clarke Street, Rosewater, as his next of kin.

On the 16th of March he was transferred to C Company, Base Infantry and then on the 7th of April he was posted to the newly raised 27th Battalion, C Company in Ascot Park Camp.

No time was lost in completing the full Battalion from the men at Ascot Park, and on April 1st the unit marched to the site of the now historic Mitcham Camp, which site was retained until the cessation of hostilities as the main training area for the Australian Imperial Forces in South Australia.

The inconveniences and discomforts of those early days of camp life were in marked contrast to the advantages and recreative opportunities of later times, to say nothing of the lack of hygienic and sanitary precautions, the provision of which, at a later date, made the Camp at Mitcham a model for the Commonwealth. Despite the dust of the first few weeks and the mud of later days, very great pride was taken in the Battalion quarters. All ranks were accommodated in the old-fashioned and now discarded tents, and set themselves with cheerfulness and thoroughness to make themselves as cozy as possible. The necessary physical and disciplinary training was carried out with all celerity, and it was not long before the unit was sufficiently trained for embarkation.

In equipping the troops, much difficulty was experienced owing to shortage of supplies, and when, shortly before embarkation, the requisite quantities were available, the Quartermasters branch was kept busy, early and late, receiving and issuing clothing, arms, and equipment.
It is encouraging to record that many of the businessmen of Adelaide were very liberal with gifts of goods and luxuries for the troops. Besides gifts for the comfort of the men collectively and individually, many articles for the use of the Battalion generally were received. Among other presentations was a typewriter from Messrs. Colton, Palmer and Preston, and a large clock from Mr. H. Heylen (himself an old soldier). This clock, as all the old members of the Battalion will recollect, travelled with the unit until July, 1916, when it was packed, with other regimental impedimenta, and sent across to England.
It was set up in each of our training camps, and recorded Regimental time on Gallipoli, and later in France.

The newly-formed Cheer Up Society in Adelaide, founded to give cheer to local and visiting soldiers, made the comfort of the men in camp their particular care, and were responsible for countless acts of kindness and forethought which went far to relieve the monotony and tedium of life under canvas.
Early in the month of May, the Battalion and other allotted troops in camp were invited by the Society to a luncheon in the Jubilee Exhibition Building, Adelaide, and they marched to the city via Unley through gaily decorated streets lined with cheering and enthusiastic crowds. A very fine display was made at the Unley City Hall. When the troops arrived at the Jubilee Exhibition Building they were at once seated at bountifully supplied and decorated tables, where, to the accompaniment of fervent patriotic addresses the good things of life were freely partaken of, and the men showed their appreciation in the most striking manner.

This day lives in the memory of the original Battalion survivors, and was a striking and fitting encouragement for them on the eve of their embarkation.
A matter worthy of mention occurred at a farewell gathering about this time, when Lieut.-Col. Dollman, speaking on behalf of the Battalion, made some comparison between the men of the first contingent and those then preparing for embarkation.
In effect he said: The memorable landing on Gallipoli has been made, the first casualty lists have been published, and the men of the 27th fully recognized that the task before them is a dinkum soldier’s job. The term stuck.

The 27th Battalion became the "Dinkums", and the expression spread first to the Brigade, then to the Division, and later to the whole Australian Army. After the evacuation of Gallipoli General Birdwood sent for the C. 0., and was much interested in learning how the term had originated.

It was early ascertained that a great number of the men allotted to the Battalion were from the suburban City of Unley, and in recognition of this fact the 27th was adopted as Unley’s Own.
The then Mayor (Mr. T. E. Yelland) and a number of enthusiastic citizens organized a splendid farewell gathering, which was held in the City Hall on May 12th. His Excellency the Governor (Sir Henry Galway) attended, and after the Mayor and others had given fervent addresses, His Excellency, with an inspiring address, presented a pair of binoculars to Colonel Dollman on behalf of the citizens. Miss Dollman then made presentations to each of the Unley boys in the Battalion, and response on their behalf was made by the Commanding Officer. Sir Henry Galway visited the Battalion in camp at Mitcham, and reviewed the men on parade, after which, on behalf of Mrs. A. G. Miller, he presented a beautiful flag to the unit. His Excellency afterwards lunched with the officers.
So the time sped away till orders were received to embark.

The early morning of May 31st found the Battalion in the bustle of preparation for their first real move as an organized unit. The principal stores and equipment had already been taken on board, and when final inspections were over the troops were entrained from Mitcham on two special trains.

Upon arrival at the Outer Harbor, where the troopship Geelong, officially registered as A2, was lying, a very great crowd of friends was found already assembled to bid the lads Good-bye. Very little time was lost in embarking the battalion. The regimental band was mustered on the upper deck, and, until the transport sailed, enlivened the proceedings with a fine programme of music. Amid the greatest enthusiasm from soldiers and civilians alike the transport slowly swung out from the wharf, while fluttering ribbons and waving flags evidenced the deep sentiment of affection which characterized the parting.
And so they sailed, these men of the Twenty-Seventh Battalion, bound overseas to take their part in the mighty conflict between nations, leaving behind sorrowing but brave hearts to bear the suspense of separation, and to pray for the safe return of their dear ones.

Slowly the troopship left the wharf, the long streaming ribbons grew taut and snapped, the band played farewell music, to those on board the cheering grew faint, the groups of watching figures on the wharf merged into one another, and their home-land faded from sight.

The great majority of the men were unused to sea life, and found troopship conditions uncomfortable in the extreme, but with a ready will and buoyant spirit soon set themselves to overcome the monotony of the voyage. A certain amount of physical exercise was possible, and regular instructional parades were held, sports and concert committees worked hard with excellent results, and after leaving Western Australia, where other troops were embarked, everybody had settled down to the novel surroundings.

As usual with troopship sailings, their course and destination was unknown, but it was generally surmised that their destination was Egypt enroute to Gallipoli.
From Western Australia their course lay direct to Suez, and for a few days the ship was buffeted and tossed under the influence of monsoons, but as they neared the equatorial waters better conditions prevailed, and life on board passed smoothly enough.
They all remember how their troopship wallowed and rolled on the slightest provocation, and having in memory now the better conditions of transports on which they afterwards sailed, it is but natural that they thought think the fare and accommodation on the Geelong was very poor in comparison.

An incident which occasioned much sorrow on board was the passing away of their comrade W. A. Graham, of Hamley Bridge, who died on board and was buried at sea. He was the first of the lads to answer the roll call for the “Other World, and his death was deeply mourned.
On the night following his death, at about ten o’clock, the officers assembled in the stern of the ship, and in the absence of a Protestant Chaplain, Colonel Dollman read the burial service, and his body was committed to the deep. Then in the impressive stillness of the starlit night, the silence deepened by the fact that the monotonous throbbing of the engines had ceased, his body was gently and tenderly given to the waves.
A minutes solemn silence, and then full steam ahead, and they left their soldier to his rest.

When passing Aden, at the entrance to the Red Sea, news was received by wireless of a native rising against the garrison there, and although the possibility of their landing was discussed, their services were not requisitioned. A day or two later, in the early morning, wireless calls reached them from a vessel in distress.
A dusty haze from the African shore made visibility difficult, but soon after daylight they sighted a British-Indian ship aground upon one of the many islands which abound thereabouts.
The Geelong stopped, and the stranded ship put off a boat, and some of her officers came on board. The captain of the Geelong undertook to stand by and afford what relief he could, but the arrival of a collier and almost simultaneously a wireless message from Aden that a rescue ship had been dispatched, enabled them to continue their voyage towards Suez, leaving the collier to stand guard.

Suez was sighted on July 5th and the next morning instructions reached them to disembark and proceed by train to Cairo.
While lying at the wharf they saw the troopship Ballarat leave for Australia with the first batch of wounded men from Gallipoli.

They travelled from Suez to Heliopolis in three special trains, the last one arriving in the early hours of the morning.
Their first camp was on the outskirts of the city, and was known as the Aerodrome Camp.
Here the 27th was attached temporarily to the 5th Brigade, the other battalions of the 7th Brigade having been isolated on account of an outbreak of measles while on the voyage.
Their accommodation was very comfortable, the sleeping quarters being airy tents, and dining and recreation huts being provided. Plenty of shower baths were available, and as an issue of tropical clothing was made, the troops very soon adapted themselves to the new conditions.

Reveille was at 4 am daily, and training was carried on till 8 am, and after breakfast theoretical training occupied the time between 10 and noon. At four in the afternoon training recommenced and continued until seven. Limited evening leave was given, and each week-end a liberal proportion were given freedom on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

About a fortnight after their arrival they moved camp to Abbasia and joined the other units of the brigade. A detailed programme of work was carried out, including trench digging, night marches, and attack and defense practices.
Among the duties which fell to the 27th Battalion was that of garrisoning the Kasr-el-Nil Barracks at Cairo and supplying a town picquet and several guards.
This work was very well done and gained commendation from the Imperial authorities.
Several instructional courses were held for the benefit of officers and non-commissioned officers. These, together with the hearty and enthusiastic interest shown by the rank and file in the various branches of training, soon brought the Battalion to a high state of efficiency.

After a period of two months in Egypt, instructions were received to prepare for embarkation for Gallipoli and immediate steps were taken to completely overhaul all equipment, and make good any deficiencies.
On the night of September 3rd they boarded trains for Alexandria and next morning embarked on the Cunard liner Ivernia in company with the 28th Battalion.
This was their first experience of voyaging in submarine-infested waters and stringent precautions were taken for the safety of all on board.
Lifebelts were worn day and night, submarine guards mounted and no lights permitted after dark.
They reached Lemnos on September 9th and anchored in Mudros Harbour until the 12th, on which day the whole of the 7th Brigade was transhipped to smaller vessels and made ready for the landing on Gallipoli.

They left Lemnos between 5 and 6pm in the evening of the 12th and watched the daylight fade away, with mixed feelings, because they knew that before the sun rose again they would be on the shores of that peninsula where so many of their brave compatriots had fought and fallen.
Night fell, and presently booming over the darkened sea came the sound of gunfire.

To Percy and the troops the sound of guns firing in anger was new and when they saw the dull flashes on the horizon and the sweeping rays of a searchlight from a battleship, they realized that their goal was near at hand.
Soon the rattle of musketry could be heard and the dim outlines of the shore became visible.
Dropping anchor, they waited until a barge towed by a tug came silently alongside. Into the barge about half the troops were packed and they pushed off. As they drew nearer to the shore the sound of rifle bullets striking the water about then added to the realism, and the sound of shell fire grew louder.

About midway between the ship and shore their barge parted company with the tug and they drifted helplessly until the fussy tug picked them up again and eventually deposited them at the few piles and planks which comprised the landing place.
Here a guide awaited them and they were told to get the Battalion together as soon as possible and march along the shore to a bivouac ground to be pointed out.
This it was necessary to do during darkness as most of the beach was in full view of the enemy trenches during the day.

They trudged along, for the most part in sand, until, to their infinite relief, they turned into a place known as Taylor’s Hollow, where a New Zealand battery had its quarters. There was little of darkness left when, tired and weary, they threw themselves down.

Having reported to General Godley, who was in command of the New Zealand and Australian Division to which unit their Brigade had been attached, the C.O. received instructions to visit the trenches held by the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade and a New Zealand Infantry Brigade.

This Colonel Dollman and several of the company officers of the Battalion did during the afternoon, and, later, instructions were received to move the Battalion up during the night and take over the trenches from the New Zealand troops on which was called Cheshire Ridge.
During that night, the 13th of September, they slowly and silently took over and commenced our garrison duty on Gallipoli.

Their trench, which was poorly constructed having been established by the New Zealand troops, who were weakened both in numbers and physique owing to continuous and arduous service, ran along the top of a ridge and was distant from the enemy about eighty to four hundred yards. The ridge was high, and afforded a splendid view of Suvla Bay, the Salt Lake, and Anafarta, also the “W” Hills position, and they could see enemy troops out of range of their own fire.
Their immediate enemy concern was a position held in what once had been a farm, but was now battered beyond all recognition.

Enemy trenches, however, had been made and strengthened, and offered a continuous menace to the 27th Battalion lines. It was soon recognized that their trenches could be much improved and they constructed splendid forward fire positions, which gave better and more effective command over the enemy.

It was here on the 26th of September that Percy suffered from Myalgia & a sprained back and was admitted into the 7th Field Ambulance for 4 days before returning to his Battalion.
Three days later Percy was still suffering from Myalgia & a sprained back and was readmitted into the 7th Field Ambulance.

On the 7th of October he was transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station on ANZAC Beach and 3 days later he was evacuated to Malta on board HS Formosa and admitted into the Valetta Military Hospital.
On the 31st of October Percy was evacuated to England on board HS Regina and admitted into the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford on the 12th of November.

Percy embarked from England on the 11th of March 1916 on board HT Suevic and whilst on board the transport he celebrated his 20th Birthday.

Percy disembarked in Adelaide on the 23rd of April 1916 and was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 27th of June 1916.
He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War & Victory Medals.