Pte
Percy Champion
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 31/10/1895 |
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Place of birth: Kadina, South Australia, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Grocer |
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: 5672 |
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Enlistment date: 13/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Kadina, South Australia, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Molenaarelsthoek, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Duhallow A.D.S. cemetery Plot: IX Row: C Grave: 6 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Percy Champion served in the 10th Battalion A.I.F., 3rd Australian Brigade, 1st Australian Division. The 10th Battalion A.I.F. was not directly involved in the Battle of Broodseinde (4 October 1917) but, on the night of 5/6 October, went into the line near Molenaarelsthoek to relieve the 3rd Battalion A.I.F.
During the relief a German barrage struck parts of the battalion. The A company (the first company to carry out the relief) succeeded without casualties. C company, right after passing its battalion headquarters (J.8.b.50.40.), suffered heavy casualties due to the German shelling. The company had to open out and take cover in shell holes. The 12th platoon was almost annihilated. German shelling continued through the 6th as the battalion tried to repair trenches with sandbags. Battalion casualties for the 24 hours were two officers and 27 other ranks.
According to an eye witnesses Percy Champion was part of the 12th Platoon, C Company and was last seen in a shell hole. Private Champion was buried close to where he fell, near the Battalion Headquarter. His Burial Return Sheet (J.4.b.5.5.) mentions the name ‘Chapman’ instead of Champion. After the war his body was recovered and reburied at Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery.
During the relief a German barrage struck parts of the battalion. The A company (the first company to carry out the relief) succeeded without casualties. C company, right after passing its battalion headquarters (J.8.b.50.40.), suffered heavy casualties due to the German shelling. The company had to open out and take cover in shell holes. The 12th platoon was almost annihilated. German shelling continued through the 6th as the battalion tried to repair trenches with sandbags. Battalion casualties for the 24 hours were two officers and 27 other ranks.
According to an eye witnesses Percy Champion was part of the 12th Platoon, C Company and was last seen in a shell hole. Private Champion was buried close to where he fell, near the Battalion Headquarter. His Burial Return Sheet (J.4.b.5.5.) mentions the name ‘Chapman’ instead of Champion. After the war his body was recovered and reburied at Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery.
Sources 3
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10th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/27/24). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, CHAMPION P). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx Sources used |
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Lock CBL., The Fighting 10th : souvenir of the 10th Battalion AIF 1914-1919, (Adelaide, South Australia, Webb & Son, 1936), pg. 70-71. Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2935811 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a3b6e204-80f5-48f0-93a2-4fa47ae82a55 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7386658 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=50104 |