| Regimental number | 3439 |
| Place of birth | Sydney New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Address | Stanmore, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 30 |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs L J Purssell, Stanmore Road, Stanmore, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 13th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/30/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 13th Battalion |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
Military Medal 'On night 4th/5th February, 1917, during the attack on STORMY TRENCH, east of GUEUDECOURT, Lance Corporal PURSSELL distinguished himself by the calm and efficient way in which he took charge of the men in his vicinity and pushed on with the consolidation of the newly won position. When the Platoon Commander and all his senior N.C.O.s became casualties he took charge of the platoon and commended it with great skill. Later he was placed in charge of ration parties carrying through the enemy barrage and over an open space swept by hostile machine gun fire.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 133 Date: |