HILL, Percival Melnotte

Percival enlisted at Inverell in May 1916 when he was twenty-two years old. He gave his occupation as Miner and stated he was born at Emmaville and that his address was Uralla NSW, where his Mother Jane lived.

Percival joined the 33rd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement which sailed from Australia for England on HMAT A30 Borda in October 1916. After a few weeks in England, he was sent to France in February 1917. A month later he was wounded in action and invalided to England. After treatment at Guildford War Hospital for a gunshot wound to his right arm, he returned to France in July. During October he was wounded in action and again invalided back to England where he was treated at 2nd Southern General Hospital for a severe gunshot wound to his face. He returned to Australia in April 1918 and was medically discharged.

Upon his return to Stannifer, residents organised a ‘Welcome Home’ function and presented him with ‘inscribed gold sleeve links and neck studs’ as a token of their appreciation. By 1921 he was living and working at Uralla. He died in 1978.

Percival’s name is recorded on the Uralla Public School Honor Roll, Inverell Honor Roll and the Stannifer and Old Mill Honor Roll.