The AIF Project

Percy George BONTOFT

Regimental number45
Place of birthLeeds, Yorkshire, England
Place of birthLeeds, England
SchoolBoard School, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Age on arrival in Australia17
ReligionMethodist
OccupationCarpenter
AddressGoodwood Road, Goodwood, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 4.5"
Weight137 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Lucy Jane Bontoft, Goodwood Road, Goodwood, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date29 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll20 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFrance
Date of death20 July 1916
Age at death19
Age at death from cemetery records19
Place of burialBedford House Cemetery, Enclosure No. 4 (Plot VI, Row C, Grave No. 17), Zillebeke, Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
120
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Private Bontoft's remains were located and exhumed in 1925 in the vicinity of Mouquet Farm, and reburied at Bedford House Cemetery Extension No 4. Identity was established by identity disc. Parents; George and Luch Jane BONTOFT, 326 Goodwood Road, Clarence Park, SOuth Australia. Born at Leeds, England
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Found guilty, Road Head, 1 April 1916, of neglecting to comply with an order: awarded 5 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 19 July 1916.

Previous report of wounded, now, 13 September 1916, to be reported as 'Missing, not Wounded, 20 July 1916'.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 450901, 76 Pte W.H. COLLINS, 32nd Bn, 30 November 1916: 'I knew him well, and last saw him on July 19th. at night in Nomansland (sic) at Fleurbaix. He was wounded in body and legs. I spoke to him. He said a m.g. had got him. He was very badly wounded and lying down.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BONTOFT Percy George
Red Cross file 450901

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