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Percy Valentine Storkey

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Percy Valentine Storkey Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Napier, Napier City, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
Death
3 Oct 1969 (aged 76)
Teddington, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London, England
Burial
Hanworth, London Borough of Hounslow, Greater London, England Add to Map
Memorial ID
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World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He was educated at Napier Boys' Grammar School and Victoria College, Wellington, New Zealand, He moved to Sydney, Austraila in 1911 and enrolled as a law student in 1913. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a Private on May 10, 1915 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in September. He embarked aboard “HMAT A29 Suevic” with reinforcements for the 19th Australian Infantry Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division on December 20. On arrival in England he underwent further training before leaving for France on November 7, 1916. On November 14, he joined the 19th Battalion in France and five days later, in an attack near Flers he was wounded and evacuated to England. He was promoted 1st Lieutenant in January 1917 but did not rejoin his battalion until July 13. He was wounded for a second time on October 10, was again evacuated to England but was back with his battalion on December 11. On April 7, 1918, the 19th Battalion was assigned to clear the area north of Hangard Wood, near Villers-Bretonneux. The wood was said to be 'lightly held' but the attack soon faced heavy machine-gun fire. When the company commander was wounded, Storkey took over and led a small group through head-high saplings into a clearing behind the Germans who were firing at the rest of his men. Storkey and his men instantly charged the Germans before they had time to react. His party killed or wounded thirty of them before the remaining fifty men surrendered. His confident and determined leadership had given the impression that he led a larger force than the handful visible to the Germans, and for his bravery was awarded the Victoria Cross. In May, he was promoted Captain. He arrived back in Australia in November and his AIF appointment ended in January 1919. He resumed his university studies graduating in law and being admitted to the bar in 1921. He served as a New South Wales Department of Justice crown prosecutor until May 1939 when he became district court judge and chairman of quarter sessions in the northern district of New South Wales. He retired in 1955 and with his wife went to England to live at Teddington, Middlesex, where he died in 1969.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He was educated at Napier Boys' Grammar School and Victoria College, Wellington, New Zealand, He moved to Sydney, Austraila in 1911 and enrolled as a law student in 1913. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a Private on May 10, 1915 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in September. He embarked aboard “HMAT A29 Suevic” with reinforcements for the 19th Australian Infantry Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division on December 20. On arrival in England he underwent further training before leaving for France on November 7, 1916. On November 14, he joined the 19th Battalion in France and five days later, in an attack near Flers he was wounded and evacuated to England. He was promoted 1st Lieutenant in January 1917 but did not rejoin his battalion until July 13. He was wounded for a second time on October 10, was again evacuated to England but was back with his battalion on December 11. On April 7, 1918, the 19th Battalion was assigned to clear the area north of Hangard Wood, near Villers-Bretonneux. The wood was said to be 'lightly held' but the attack soon faced heavy machine-gun fire. When the company commander was wounded, Storkey took over and led a small group through head-high saplings into a clearing behind the Germans who were firing at the rest of his men. Storkey and his men instantly charged the Germans before they had time to react. His party killed or wounded thirty of them before the remaining fifty men surrendered. His confident and determined leadership had given the impression that he led a larger force than the handful visible to the Germans, and for his bravery was awarded the Victoria Cross. In May, he was promoted Captain. He arrived back in Australia in November and his AIF appointment ended in January 1919. He resumed his university studies graduating in law and being admitted to the bar in 1921. He served as a New South Wales Department of Justice crown prosecutor until May 1939 when he became district court judge and chairman of quarter sessions in the northern district of New South Wales. He retired in 1955 and with his wife went to England to live at Teddington, Middlesex, where he died in 1969.

Bio by: Anthony Staunton



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Mar 23, 2006
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13707623/percy_valentine-storkey: accessed ), memorial page for Percy Valentine Storkey (9 Sep 1893–3 Oct 1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 13707623, citing South West Middlesex Crematorium, Hanworth, London Borough of Hounslow, Greater London, England; Maintained by Find a Grave.