Name
Percival Francis Heurtley Reed (MC)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/04/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
2611
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
M C
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
METEREN MILITARY CEMETERY
I. E. 138.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Digswell House Australian Hospital Memorial, St John's Church, Digswell, Blundell's School War Memorial, Tiverton, Devon
Pre War
Percival Francis Heurtley Reed was born in Westport, New Zealand on 11 November 1887, the son of Frank and Edith Reed, of Mines Department, Wellington, New Zealand. (His father was Chief Inspector of Mines).
He was educated at Blundell's School in Tiverton, Devon, England. He lived in Perth, Western Australia and worked as a Wool Classer. He gave his next of kin as a friend, Warwick Wilson, Hauraki Club, Hauraki, New Zealand.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 3 August 1915 in Brisbane, Queensland as a Private in the 26th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement. His unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on 21 October 1915. He was transferred to the 12th Battalion, promoted to Sergeant on 20 March 1916 and arrived in Marseilles on 3 April 1916. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal "for conspicuous gallantry and administrative ability at Pozieres" on 1 August 1916 and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant later the same month.
At the end of August he was attached to a Tunnelling Company and suffered fractured finger(s) possibly caused by a gun shot wound on 9 September 1916. He was transferred to England for treatment. and recovered at Digswell House, being discharged on 6 October 1916. He was promoted to Lieutenant and returned to France on 13. November, joining his battalion in the field on 17 November 1916.
On 6 April 1917 he was admitted to hospital with Mumps and re-joined his unit on 27 April 1917. The following month on 8 May, he was wounded in action with severe gun shot wounds in both legs and transferred to England on 15 May 1917. He spent some time recovering from his injuries and whilst in England he heard he had been awarded the Military Cross "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led a bombing attack inflicting heavy losses on the enemy and bringing back valuable information. His men were twice driven back, but he led them forward and re-occupied the trench. He held this position intact until severely wounded."
In September 1917 he returned to France and was reported missing on 27 April 1918.
Additional Information
N.B. Enlisted in the AIF in Brisbane as Eric Heurtley after having earlier that day deserted from his ship the HMAS Warrego - His Attestation Paper and Service Record (recordsearch.naa.gov.au) was later amended when being Commissioned and receiving a King's Pardon for Desertion - at which time he made a sworn declaration that his full name was Percival Francis Heurtley REED. The Final Verification Papers completed by his Next of Kin state that he was born in Westport, New Zealand. However, at attestation [where he gave an alias name-Eric Heurtley, he claimed to have been born in Tiverton, Devon, England. No birth record has been found but he certainly had Devon connections in that he was educated at Blundell’s School in Tiverton.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
aif.adfa.edu.au, vwma.org.au
