26 Facts About Percy Storkey

Percy Storkey was a law student at the University of Sydney when the First World War began.

Percy Storkey volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force in May 1915 and was posted to the 19th Battalion.

Percy Storkey saw action on the Western Front, including during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

Percy Storkey moved to England where he died in 1969 at the age of 78.

Percy Storkey was born on 9 September 1893 in Napier, New Zealand, to Samuel Storkey, an Englishman who worked as a printer and his New Zealand-born wife, Sarah.

Samuel Percy Storkey had moved to Napier as a young boy with his father William.

Percy Storkey was educated at Napier Boys' High School, where he was dux of the school in his final year, and later Victoria College in Wellington, where he studied fine arts.

Percy Storkey then enrolled in the university's law school but the First World War curtailed his studies.

Percy Storkey enlisted for service in the Australian Imperial Force on 10 May 1915.

Percy Storkey was wounded in the thigh during fighting at Flers, on the Somme, within days of joining the battalion.

Percy Storkey commenced its advance early in the morning after a covering artillery barrage lifted, but Storkey had fallen asleep and was left behind at the starting line.

Percy Storkey shortly woke and quickly caught up with the advance, about 70 metres ahead.

Percy Storkey's conduct leading the attack had deceived the Germans into believing the size of the force facing them was much larger than it was.

Percy Storkey, considering the available options for cover too exposed, opted to withdraw the company back to their starting positions.

Percy Storkey's explanation was accepted and Storkey returned to his trench.

The citation for Percy Storkey's VC, published in The London Gazette, read:.

Percy Storkey immediately decided to attack this party from the flank and rear, and while moving forward in the attack was joined by Lt.

Later wounded for a third time, Percy Storkey was promoted to captain the following month and given command of his own company.

Percy Storkey was allocated to the Reserve of Officers in July 1920.

Percy Storkey fulfilled this role for several years until his appointment as a district court judge in May 1939, the first VC recipient to become a member of the bench.

Percy Storkey presided over trials in the northern district of New South Wales.

Percy Storkey was involved in the Returned Soldier's League and became the president of the sub-branch in Vaucluse, the suburb of Sydney where he lived.

In 1955 Percy Storkey retired and moved to England where he lived in Teddington, Middlesex, with Minnie, his English-born wife, whom he had married in 1922 in Sydney.

Percy Storkey died at home on 3 October 1969, survived by his wife.

Percy Storkey was cremated and his ashes scattered at South West Middlesex Crematorium.

Percy Storkey left his VC, along with his Victory Medal, British War Medal, and medals from the 1937 and 1953 coronations, to his old school, Napier Boys' High School.