Percy Drummond
PERCY JOHN DRUMMOND
Rank: Private
Service Number: 2264
Units Served: 4th Pioneer, 10th and 50th Battalions
Personal Details: Percy was born in 1897, the son of Catherine Ellen Veal. He spent had 4 years in the Brooklyn Park Reformatory at some time before his enlistement for an unspecified crime.
Enlistment Details:Percy enlisted at Keswick on the 14th April 1915. He was 18 years and 1 month old. He listed his occupation as farm labourer, and his religion as Roman Catholic. He was 5’7” tall with fair hair and grey eyes.
Details of his role in the war: Whilst in training at Mitcham, Percy was absent from roll call on three separate occasions between May and June 1915, and forfeited a day’s pay each time. He also suffered a bout of measles. Percy embarked at Adelaide on 23rd June 1915 on board the “Borda”. He arrived in Egypt in August with the 10th Battalion. It was reported that he did not have a regimental number and was allotted No. 2000A. He was sent on to Gallipoli. On 20th October he was admitted to hospital with diarrhoea and was discharged three days’ later on the 23rd. Percy left Gallipoli aboard the “See Beang” and arrived in Alexandria in December 1915. He was transferred to 50th Battalion on 26th February 1916 and was given new Regimental No. 2264. Percy was then transferred to the 4th Pioneers on 16th March. He was absent without leave from 3 o’clock in the afternoon on 14th April until midday the next day, and forfeited one day’s pay again. On 4th June 1916 Percy left Alexandria on board the “Sootian” and arrived in Marseilles on 11th June. On 17th July he was transferred from the 4th Pioneer Battalion back to the 50th Battalion. He was killed in action on 16th August 1916. As there are no Red Cross reports, details of his death are unobtainable. Percy was buried at Mouquet Farm about 1½ miles north west of Pozieres, but in late 1925 his body was exhumed and reinterred at the A.I.F. Burial Ground at Flers.
Age at Death: 19 years, 16th August 1916
Burial Details: A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers Ref: XV.F.21
