Private Percival Eric Gratwick

Service number WX10426
Birth Date 1902-10-19
Birth Place Australia: Western Australia, Katanning
Death Date 1942-10-26
Death Place North Africa: Western Desert, Western Desert (Egypt), El Alamein
Final Rank Private
Service Australian Army
Unit 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1943-01-28
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1943-02-04
Description

Percy Gratwick (1902-1942) was a 40-year-old former gold prospector from Western Australia. On the night of 25/26 October 1942 in an attack on Trig 29, west of El Alamein, Gratwick's company suffered heavy casualties and was held up by intense enemy fire; his platoon lost its commander, its sergeant, and most of the men. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Gratwick launched a single-handed attack with grenades, rifle, and bayonet on the German posts. He finally fell to a burst of machine-gun fire. His lone efforts had a big impact, inspiring all those around him and enabling the company to advance. Gratwick was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Rolls

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Private
    London Gazette
    28 January 1943 on page 523 at position 2
    Commonwealth Gazette
    04 February 1943 on page 398 at position 1
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Roll of Honour:

    Unit
    2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    Second World War, 1939-1945
    Rank
    Private

Timeline

Date of birth 19 October 1902
Date of honour or award 1942-10-25 - 1942-10-26 Awarded the Victoria Cross for action at El Alamein, Egypt whilst serving with 2/48 Battalion, 26 Brigade, 9 Division as a Private.
Date of death 26 October 1942