Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in the town of Mount Gambier on the 1st March 1919 to Mary and John Henry Little, Percival was their second son. Percy or Jim as he was later known, had siblings including William John, Margaret Joyce, Elma Doris, Peter David, Robert Allan and Keith Godfrey. The family lived at Kalagadoo in the South East of South Australia to the north of Mount Gambier. This fertile area was known for its forests and livestock production, with the local railway station providing a regular service for freight.
With many childhood illnesses not having a cure at the time, life was often a challenge for young children. Jim was just eight years old when his two-month-old baby brother, Peter David died in July ’27. A second baby, brother Keith Godfrey died in April ’31 just prior to his second birthday. The two infants now rest together in the Kalangadoo Cemetery.
The older Little children attended the local Kalangadoo School where they enjoyed the end of year school picnic. The first was held in ’28 with the day declared a public holiday. Parents, friends, and excited young students were taken by motor car, to the picnic site on a local farmer’s property. (The farmer’s son, Bryan Hemmings was older than Jim and later enlisted soon after Jim as SX8979, rising to become a Captain in the 2/43rd Battalion. Aged 24, he died of his wounds in Egypt on the 5th November ’42.)
At the Prize Evening held in the Riddoch Memorial Hall that same year, memories of WWI were still strong, the opening of the evening was particularly patriotic. The South Eastern Times reported that ‘The children marched on to the platform and turned to the front on a chord from the piano. The children then waved a welcome to the audience. And at a signal from the piano, all pointed to a streamer which unfurled at the rear of the platform, bearing the words "Lest We Forget."
Each successive year the picnic became a feature. In ’29 it was held on the local cricket grounds with the children, headed by the school band, marching from the school. Jim was second in the high jump event, behind Eric Chuck (who also later enlisted with Percy) and was part of the winning relay race. The cricket ground was again the venue the following year with the addition of special treats; a bun and a tin of sweets for each student after their march.
Jim became a labourer, but also enjoyed returning to his school to celebrate its milestones in ’36. It had opened in July 1892 in an old chapel on the Millicent Road, before a purpose-built school was constructed in 1904, with extensive additions in 1914. On the celebration day, Jim’s mother was one of many volunteers to help with the catering.
With the outbreak of WWII, 21year old Jim and his older brother, William (Bill) both enlisted to serve on the 13th June 1940. They were allocated consecutive numbers, Jim SX5048 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion and Bill SX5049 in the ill-fated 8th Division Ammunition as a transport driver. Both listed their mother, Mary as their next of kin.
Other locals, Eric Chuck SX7666, and Benjamin Huntley SX7728 enlisted at a similar time and were also with Jim in the 2/48th Battalion. Their initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before the new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training.
Just prior to Christmas, the Kalangadoo group were again home on a week’s pre-embarkation leave. Soon after, the young men of the 2/48th Battalion, boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. Their 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica but during January, Jim received his first fine for being absent without leave, forfeiting two day’s pay and being confined to barracks for five days. By July ’41 Jim was accidentally injured with a laceration to his left knee, causing him to have time in hospital. Soon after, his battalion was on the move to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. Once there, they completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. By October, the desert conditions unfortunately contributed to Jim developing dermatitis.
Ill health continued to come in bouts; in June ’42 Jim developed a high fever, (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) then Sandfly (Phlebotomus) fever. Soon after returning to his battalion, Jim sustained burns to his right hand.
By August ’42 back home, Mary and John were notified that their eldest son, William was missing in Malaya. The Border Watch reported that ‘Pte. Little enlisted in June 1940, as a transport driver, and spent six months serving in Alice Springs before embarking in November, 1941, ' Mr, and Mrs, Little have recently received a cable from their second son, Pte. P. J. Little, who is in the Middle East, stating that he is safe and well.'
By October lack of water for personal hygiene contributed to further infection, added to which Jim developed a painful left knee. Learning of the battalion’s departure from the Middle East to return to Australia via Melbourne in February ‘43 was a welcome announcement. Eric Chuck and Jim were amongst the cohort that trained back to Kalangadoo to spend precious time with their families and were also entertained by the Returned Servicemen’s’ Association.
Unwanted news about Bill continued to dribble in, when in May ‘43 the family learned that he was officially a Prisoner of War in Malaya. This was followed by a nebulous letter in September saying that he was ‘safe and well’.
In the meantime, Jim was training in Queensland to face a totally different enemy in the very tropical conditions in New Guinea. He arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43 but again ill health with a stomach upset emerged. By February the following year a high fever returned, followed by dengue fever. Jim finally left Port Moresby for Brisbane in February ’44 and was awarded a fortnight’s compassionate leave back in Kalangadoo with his parents.
On return to his battalion, Jim again developed malaria, but was eventually sent to Tarakan, via Morotai in April ’45. However, by June he was afflicted with a challenging gastric condition of dyspepsia followed by a hookworm infection. Better news arrived at home with official news that Bill, previously a POW was ‘now safe and well in India.’ He was finally able to return to Australia with the war finally at an end, to be discharged on the 7th December ’45 and able to return to Koomandook. His brother, Will survived being a Prisoner of War and returned on the 14th January the following year.
A huge welcome home celebration was organised for January ’46 in the Kalangadoo Institute by the Cheer-Up Society, with visitors coming from surrounding districts. The hall was decorated with red, white and blue and the Union Jack draped on either side of the words, outlined with red flowers 'Welcome Home’. The men entering the hall to the tune of ‘Home Sweet Home’, given a rousing welcome return to their district and extended best wishes as they returned to civilian life. Dancing and numerous speeches followed. It was a poignant time, with each soldier made a presentation and given a certificate from the Penola District Council. Both Percy and Bill were amongst those who attended, observing two minutes silence to honour the memory of those comrades who would not return. Items and speeches followed the singing of ‘For They are Jolly Good Fellows’. Dancing continued until two o’clock.
The following year Jim’s 59-year-old Jim’s mother died in the Penola Hospital on the 17th December ’47 and now rests in the Kalangadoo Cemetery.
By January ’50, Percy proposed to Melva Mary Crowley of Adelaide. They married in St Peter’s Cathedral in July, with Percy choosing his young brother, Robert as his best man. Their first son, Brenton Errol James was delivered in the Penola District Hospital in August ’51. Their second son, Rody completed their family.
Aged 66, Percy died on the 20th October, ’85 and was buried in the Millicent Cemetery
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.