The AIF Project

Percy John ABERCROMBIE

Regimental number5302
Date of birth1 January 1884
Place of birthYarram, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationClerk
Address112 Maling Road, Canterbury, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 7.25"
Weight149 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Elizabeth Adelaide Abercrombie, 112 Maling Road, Canterbury, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date15 January 1916
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name22nd Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/39/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 28 July 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll22nd Battalion
Promotions

2nd Lieutenant


Unit: General Infantry Reinforcements
Promotion date: 3 August 1917

Lieutenant


Unit: 22nd Battalion
Promotion date: 8 February 1918

Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


Recommendation date: 4 March 1918

Military Cross


Recommendation date: 24 May 1918

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 30706 (28 May 1918); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 165 (24 October 1918).

FateReturned to Australia 4 November 1919
Medals

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack when our advance was held up by the fire of a hostile machine gun, this officer rushed forward with a bomb, with which he killed the gunner and put the gun out of action. Rallying the men, who had been checked, he charged forward with fearless energy, and captured, after a hand-to-hand fight, the objective in his front, securing fifteen prisoners. Throughout the operation his coolness under heavy fire and his disregard for danger set a very fine example to his men.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919

Discharge date6 February 1920
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 28 July 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 11 September 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France from England, 16 November 1916.

Reverts to the rank of Private, 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 22 November 1916.

Promoted Acting Sergeant with extra pay, Etaples, 22 November 1916.

Reverts to the rank of Private, 3 December 1916.

Taken on strength of 22nd Bn, in the field, 5 December 1916.

Promoted Lance Corporal, 13 December 1916.

Marched into Cadet School of Instruction, Cambridge, England, 7 April 1917, and posted to 2nd Officers Cadet Bn.

Proceeded overseas to France, 18 August 1917; marched into 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot, 19 August 1917.

Taken on strength of 22nd Bn, 23 August 1917.

Admitted to No 2 Casualty Clearing Station, 3 January 1918 (scabies); transferred to No 10 Stationary Hospital, St Omer, 22 January 1918; discharged, 9 February 1918, and rejoined 22nd Bn the same day.

Received special mention in Sir Douglas Haig's Dispatch, 7 April 1918.

Admitted to No 12 Casualty Clearing Station, 15 August 1918 (venereal disease: syphilis); transferred to No 8 General Hospital, 24 August 1918; to No 39 General Hospital, Le Havre, 24 August 1918; discharged to Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Le Havre, 5 October 1918: total period of treatment for venereal disease: 52 days.

Rejoined 22nd Bn, 9 October 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Nestor', 1 November 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 15 December 1919; appointment terminated Melbourne (discharged), 6 February 1920.

Medals: Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death22 May 1964
SourcesNAA: B2455, ABERCROMBIE Percy John

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