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Percival Bernard Noyes
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1890 |
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Place of birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: 136 Church Street, St Peters, New South Wales, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 3897 |
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Enlistment date: 16/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Pioneers, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/05/1937 |
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Place of death: Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
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Cause of death: Death post-war (unrelated) |
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Age: 47 |
Cemetery
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Rookwood Catholic Cemetery Plot: 1358 Row: 14 Grave: 2 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Gun positions | ||
| #5 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Percival Bernard Noyes was born in March 1890 in Sydney, New South Wales. He was the son of Henry Noyes and Rebecca Coulehan, both born and raised in Australia.
In August 1915, shortly before turning 25, he volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force. At the time, Percival was working as a labourer and living with his parents at 69 Alice Street in Newtown, Sydney.
In early April 1916, Percival disembarked in Marseille. In France, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the Australian Infantry, part of the 1st Australian Division. In June, he was transferred as reinforcement to the 1st Pioneer Battalion, which belonged to the same division. Percival appeared to be a headstrong figure, not exactly a model of military discipline. His military record lists several minor infractions: arriving late for duty, being absent in the field, showing an expired leave pass… Still, he fulfilled his duties and shared in the burdens - more than the glories - of his unit.
In July 1917, the 1st Pioneer Battalion was still stationed at the Somme. A month later, as the first phase of the Battle of Passchendaele ground to a halt, the Pioneers were sent to Flanders to support a breakthrough that never came, and to assist the 1st Australian Divisional Artillery. The first companies arrived near Ypres on 4 August 1917 and were immediately deployed to construct artillery positions in the forward zone.
On 8 August, one company of the 1st Pioneers was operating near Ypres. That day, three men were wounded, among them Percival, who was likely hit by shell fragments to the head and right shoulder. The 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade - whose batteries were set up between Maple Copse and Zouave Wood, near today’s Sanctuary Wood Cemetery-was heavily targeted by German artillery, resulting in several casualties.
Percival was evacuated to a hospital in Reading, England, and in December 1917 he returned to Australia. His war was over, but its mental toll lingered. In November 1918, he married Elizabeth Rachel Trembath, but the marriage did not last. In 1926, it ended due to alcohol abuse and domestic violence. In 1937, Percival died at the age of 47, just two years after the death of his parents; nearly twenty years after that fateful day in a field between Ypres and Passchendaele.
In August 1915, shortly before turning 25, he volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force. At the time, Percival was working as a labourer and living with his parents at 69 Alice Street in Newtown, Sydney.
In early April 1916, Percival disembarked in Marseille. In France, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the Australian Infantry, part of the 1st Australian Division. In June, he was transferred as reinforcement to the 1st Pioneer Battalion, which belonged to the same division. Percival appeared to be a headstrong figure, not exactly a model of military discipline. His military record lists several minor infractions: arriving late for duty, being absent in the field, showing an expired leave pass… Still, he fulfilled his duties and shared in the burdens - more than the glories - of his unit.
In July 1917, the 1st Pioneer Battalion was still stationed at the Somme. A month later, as the first phase of the Battle of Passchendaele ground to a halt, the Pioneers were sent to Flanders to support a breakthrough that never came, and to assist the 1st Australian Divisional Artillery. The first companies arrived near Ypres on 4 August 1917 and were immediately deployed to construct artillery positions in the forward zone.
On 8 August, one company of the 1st Pioneers was operating near Ypres. That day, three men were wounded, among them Percival, who was likely hit by shell fragments to the head and right shoulder. The 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade - whose batteries were set up between Maple Copse and Zouave Wood, near today’s Sanctuary Wood Cemetery-was heavily targeted by German artillery, resulting in several casualties.
Percival was evacuated to a hospital in Reading, England, and in December 1917 he returned to Australia. His war was over, but its mental toll lingered. In November 1918, he married Elizabeth Rachel Trembath, but the marriage did not last. In 1926, it ended due to alcohol abuse and domestic violence. In 1937, Percival died at the age of 47, just two years after the death of his parents; nearly twenty years after that fateful day in a field between Ypres and Passchendaele.
Sources 6
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"Noyes vs Noyes” (Sydney, The Sydney Morning Herald, 22/04/1926). Sources used |
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1st Australian Pioneer Battalion (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 14/13/18). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, NOYES PERCIVAL). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Headquarters, 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 13/29/33). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 (The Sydney Diocesan Archives, Sydney) http://www.sydneyanglicanarchives.com.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). http://awm.gov.au Sources used |
More information 2
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7532571 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=225733 |