Geboortedatum: 31/10/1895

Geboorteplaats: Kadina, South Australia, Australië

Beroep: Kruidenier

Land: Australië

Strijdmacht: Australian Imperial Force

Rang: Private

Service nummer: 5672

Dienstneming datum: 13/03/1916

Dienstneming plaats: Kadina, South Australia, Australië

Eenheden:  —  Australian Infantry, 10th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Datum van overlijden: 06/10/1917

Plaats van overlijden: Molenaarelsthoek, Zonnebeke, België

Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Leeftijd: 21

British War Medal Medaille

Victory Medal Medaille

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.

10th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/27/24). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Gebruikte bronnen

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 Gebruikte bronnen

Lock CBL., The Fighting 10th : souvenir of the 10th Battalion AIF 1914-1919, (Adelaide, South Australia, Webb & Son, 1936), pg. 70-71. Gebruikte bronnen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2935811

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a3b6e204-80f5-48f0-93a2-4fa47ae82a55

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7386658

The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=50104