Sergeant Percy Clyde Statton

Service number 506
Ranks Held Lance Corporal, Sergeant
Birth Date 21/10/1890
Birth Place Australia: Tasmania, Beaconsfield
Death Date 05/12/1959
Death Place Australia: Tasmania, Hobart
Final Rank Sergeant
Service Australian Imperial Force
Unit 40th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Percy Statton was born in Tasmania, and enlisted in February 1916. During his battalion's first major action, at Messines in June 1917, he received the Military Medal. In October he was wounded, and in June 1918 he was gassed.

On 12 August 1918 Statton's battalion advanced until stopped by an enemy barrage, near Proyart, France. Over the next few hours Statton performed a number of brave actions, at one point rushing four enemy machine-gun positions armed only with a revolver. He disposed of two of the posts and killed five of the enemy. Later he went out under heavy fire and brought in two badly wounded men.

Statton came home in November 1919 to a hero's welcome; however, his wife was unhappy about his long absence, and they divorced. He remarried twice more, and worked as a farmer and in the timber industry.

Statton received the Victoria Cross, the Military Medal, service medals for the First World War, and coronation medals for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 21/10/1890
Date of embarkation 01/07/1916
Date promoted 22/05/1916 Appointed to Lance Corporal.
Date promoted 19/11/1916 Appointed to Corporal.
Date of enlistment 29/02/1916
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 29/02/1916 40th Battalion
Date promoted 16/01/1917 Appointed to temporary Sergeant.
Date wounded 10/1917
Date of recommendation honour or award 27/06/1917
Date promoted 23/04/1917 Appointed to Sergeant.
Date of honour or award 08/1917 Awarded Military Medal.
Date of honour or award 12/08/1918 Awarded Victoria Cross for action near Proyart, France whilst serving with 40 Battalion as a Sergeant.
Date of recommendation honour or award 1918
Date of recommendation honour or award 17/08/1918
Date returned to Australia 06/10/1919
Date of discharge 18/01/1920
Date of death 05/12/1959