SALMON, Percy William
| Service Number: | 6897 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Jeetho, Victoria, Australia, 1886 |
| Home Town: | Parkville, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Essendon State School No 483, Melbourne C of E Grammar School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 1 September 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Assevillers New British Cemetery VII C 3 |
| Memorials: | Essendon North Christ Church Anglican Memorial Window, Essendon State School No 483 Roll of Honor, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll, Northern Golf Club HR, Pascoe Vale War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6897, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 1917: | Involvement Private, 6897, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 11 May 1917: | Embarked Private, 6897, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 24 Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-09-01 | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 6897, 24th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
PERCY WILLIAM SALMON who was killed in action at Mont St. Quentin on 1st September 1918 was the son of Mr. W. F. Salmon. He was born in 1886 and was at the School from 1900 to 1902. He was in the football team in 1901 and 1902, in the cricket team in 1902 and in the lacrosse team in 1900.
On leaving School he went into his father's office and became an accountant. He joined the 24th Battalion, in which he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 2nd July 1918.
A brother officer writes thus: " A few facts may let the boys see clearly that he died as he had lived. We hopped the bags at 6 a.m. on 1st September. I was over first with my platoon, and 'Sam' was in support of me at about 100 yards distance. As soon as we went over a hail of machine gun bullets met us; all I could do was to get my men forward and could not look back to see how `Sam' was. We went forward till held up by a hellish fire from front and flanks; then we dug in. Four officers and five men reached this position with me. The O.C. looked around for his supports, then I knew something had happened my pal, as he would never let a man down. The O.C. asked for an officer to go back and bring the supports forward. It was hell, but I volunteered to go, thinking I might find `Sam' and be able to help him. I could not find any men but wounded and dead lying in shell holes, so went right back to where we hopped off from, and then I found that the officer with the supports had been hit and seen to fall into a shell hole just forward of the trench. I went back to the place and found `Sam' shot through the head. He must have had no pain, as it was instantaneous. I had grown to love him more than a brother.
He died as he lived, a brave soldier and a man. The boys had grown to like him and would follow him anywhere; he had earned a name right through the battalion which one might easily be proud of.
The O.C. allowed me to have his body brought down and buried in a little place on the Somme, a cemetery at Frise. The Colonel told me yesterday that he was expecting great things of him, as the time he had been with the battalion showed he was an exception to most junior subalterns. The whole battalion mourns him."
Major W. H. Elwood, in a letter to Percy Salmon's widow, says : "Though your husband had not been long with the battalion he had already given proof of his courage, ability and absolute reliability. He was very popular, with all ranks, and was respected and admired by all for his qualities of heart and mind, his splendid character and his marked ability. We have had few officers of such promise, and from the personal standpoint his loss is mourned by all."
Source : AU7036 War Service Old Melburnians 1914-1918
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