DEVENEY, Percy
| Service Number: | 2323 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 August 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 25 June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 6 August 1916, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" No known grave, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2323, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2323, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2323, 32nd Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Adelaide | |
| 6 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2323, 48th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2323 awm_unit: 48 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-08-06 |
Help us honour Percy Deveney's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elsa Reuter
Biography of Percy Deveney by Dawn Hemsley
Percival Michael DEVENEY was born in Adelaide on 25th June 1894, the eldest son of Patrick DEVENEY and Margaret (Bridgette) nee DOOLIN. He had an older sister, Verae Maude (OLIVER)and younger brother Edward Warson. The family were living at 11 Halifax Street Adelaide at the time of Percy’s enlistment.
Percy’s father was a renowned cross country and hurdles jockey. Percy was apprenticed as a jockey to JH Hill of St Leonards. Unfortunately he was not successful in this endeavour. At the time of his enlistment on 2nd August 1915, he was a driver. Percy was 21 years and one month old when he enlisted. He was described as 5 ft 7 inches tall, 152 pounds of fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark hair.
He embarked at Adelaide per H.M.A.T A68 “Anchises” on 30th March 1916 with 32nd Battalion. On 19th April 1916 he was taken on strength of 48th Battalion ex 32nd. Percy was killed in action on 6th August 1916 at Pozieres, after previously reported wounded, then wounded and missing. He was just 22 years and 2 months old.
Like so many servicemen of The Great War, he has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
The Ghosts of ANZAC
“Australia, salute your sons
and thank them for a job well done
They’ve packed their swags and hit the track
there’ll be no more looking back
A whiff of smoke on the distant horizon
that is where you will find them
Boil the billy, swing it high
give ‘em a wave as you pass them by.”
Click images to start slideshow.