Percy Albert Hurrell

"Percy Albert Hurrell was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his services in WW1"

- by Allan Hurrell

Percy Albert Hurrell was born in 1892 in the sub-district of Belgrave in London, England. He migrated to Australia on the 6^th June 1912 on board the ship Themistocles on the Aberdeen Line in Brisbane, Queensland. He worked his way over as a porter onboard the ship and once he arrived in Australia, worked as a laborer on the north coast of NSW.

On 13^th August 1915, he enlisted into the first AIF as a private no. 3308 in the 9^th Battalion. At Lismore NSW after the Gallipoli campaign, his battalion was split in two. Percy was transferred to the 49^th Battalion on 20^th February 1916.

He served in France from 12^th June 1916 - 28^th January 1919. He was severely wounded in action on the 14^th August 1916 by a gunshot to his left thigh. He was admitted to hospital in Birmingham, England where he recovered and then rejoined the unit from hospital on the 6^th December 1916. He was AWOL several times and as a result forfeited pay in 1916 and again in 1919. He returned to Australia on the troopship China and was discharged in QLD on 4^th August 1919. He served in the Middle East, France and the United Kingdom from 1915 - 1919.

Medals: Star Issued 1914/15 No. 415, British War Medal 1^st August No. 7205, Victoria Medal issued 1^st Augusts No. 7131.

His marriage certificate states he was a farmer in Nanango QLD and was later offered a soldier settlement in Tully, QLD, but this was not taken up. He married Elizabeth Eileen Cooper on 7^th August 1919 in Lismore, NSW. They had six children, the first and second child Arthur John and Percy George respectively served in the second AIF in New Guinea. He died in Coraki NSW on the 6^th July 1955.

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