Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Michael (Percy) as he was known, was the son of Michael Joseph Dwyer and Mary
Elizabeth Dwyer (Nee Greelish). He was born in 1894, in Yarrawonga, Victoria. He was one of 10 children. Denis, William, Frank, Thomas, John, Peter, and Richard were his brothers and May and Margaret were his sisters.
The family moved from Yarrawonga, Victoria to Savernake, NSW to farm around 1900.

Michael commenced his school years at Savernake Provisional School. In 1908 his mother died from Cholera, aged 47. Michael took up work as a farm labourer and worked with horses, becoming very skilled at breaking horses in.
Much has been made of the family trait of community service, its always been a topic of conversation and pride when the relatives have gathered together, listening to our aunts talk about their aunts and uncles and grandparents and how much they were involved to in the community. As they moved through Victoria and into NSW, they were seeking roles in local government Councils., Farmers associations, school P & C’s. They were involved with the church, sporting clubs especially Football and Tennis. So it was with pride that we were told of Percy and Thomas’s contribution to the Great War. News of their enlistment made it to the personal pages of The Berrigan Advocate , Fri 25

Jun 1915 (Trove Link)
“Personal. Mr M. J. Dwyer, representative of the Riverina Harvester Company at Corowa, has been apprised that his sons, Messrs Percy and Thomas Dwyer, have enlisted for service at the front. They were very popular lads at Savernake, and while they will be missed from the township, everyone—particularly their father —is proud of the action taken.”

The brothers, who were just 2 years apart in age, were inseparable, working and playing together. They stayed together in the same regiment and always looked out for each other.

Following the end of the war, the brothers and sisters spread out across southern NSW, taking up farms as the State government broke up the larger station leases to create soldier settlement farms and also other similar holdings for civilians. The boys took up farms at Illabo (Denis), Rankins Springs (William and Frank), Tabbita (Near Griffith) Thomas, Tullibigeal (Jack), Oaklands (Peter) , Ganmain (Richard), Oaklands (Margaret Cameron) and Narrandera (May Miller). Bill Dwyer and his 6 sisters stayed in contact with the surviving Uncles and Aunts in their younger years, and would hear stories of the family. Thomas passed away in 1936, at 40 yers of age, he had never recovered from injuries received in the war, so the stories he told his family about how he and Percy stayed together to the very end have been passed down.
News of Percy’s death were recorded in The Berrigan Advocate, Thu 22 Nov 1917 (Trove
Link)
“War Casualties.
PRIVATE AUBREY B. HOLY,
The sad news was conveyed to Mr and Mrs T. Holy, of Deniliquin, on Thursday last
that their son, Private Aubrey R. Holy, was killed, in action on 27th September.
Private Holy, who WBB a native of Deniliquin, 23 years of age, enlisted three years
ago. He took, part in the fighting at Gallipoli, and after becoming ill he underwent
an operation for appendicitis. On recovering he returned to Australia for a time,
and subsequently rejoined his unit in France. Two of his brothers (Sergeant J. Holy
and Private C, Holy) are on service abroad.
PRIVATE GEORGE REYNOLDS.
Advice has been received that Private George Reynolds, son of Mr G. Reynolds, of
Mullwala, was killed in France on 4th October.
PRIVATE PERCY DWYER
Mr M. J. Dwyer, of Corowa and formerly of Savernake, has received word that his
son, Private Percy Dwyer, who was recently reported wounded, has since died of
the injuries sustained.
PRIVATE B. DAVIDSON.
Mr W. Davidson, of Berrigan, has received word that his son, Private B, Davidson,
haB been reported missing. This is the most unsatisfactory news that a parent can
receive of a soldier son, and creates a feeling of great anxiety. It is hoped that
better news will be forthcoming concerning Private Davidson in the near future.”
Our father told us that all of his uncles and aunts, Percy’s siblings, had a photograph of Percy and Thomas in uniform displayed in their home. When Tom returned from the war he was able to tell of Percy’s injuries and how he had been placed in the bed beside his brother, when he was injured just a few weeks after his brother and taken to Le Treport Hospital Military Hospital, the same hospital that Percy was in. His hospital bed was placed next to his brothers, and he was able to be with him as he passed away.

In 2000, Mark Dwyer and Judy Cotterill (Great Niece and Nephew of Thomas and Percy) travelled to the Western Front to visit Percy’s Grave at Mont Houn, France. They were among many family members that had been able to make the pilgrimage. Percy and Thomas story in the great war have featured in Rankins Springs ANZAC day commemorations.