Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 2, Australia, GRATWICK VC, 2/48 Battalion, 1941

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1941

Subcollections

Overview

Informal portrait of Private Percy Gratwick, Victoria Cross

Historical information

Percival Eric (Percy) Gratwick was born in Katanning, Western Australia on 19 October 1902, the fifth son of the local postmaster. Leaving school at the age of 16, he took up various jobs which included a period as a messenger at Parliament House. Later he worked as a blacksmith, a drover and a prospector.[
Serving in 2/48 Battalion, he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross in October 1942, On the night of 25/26 October 1942 during the attack at Miteiriya Ridge, Egypt, the platoon to which Gratwick belonged suffered considerable casualties, including the platoon commander and sergeant. Gratwick, realising the seriousness of the situation, charged a German machine-gun position by himself, and killed the crew with hand grenades. He also killed a mortar crew. Under heavy machine-gun fire Gratwick then charged a second post, using his rifle and bayonet. In inflicting further casualties he was killed by machine-gun fire, but his brave and determined action, , enabled his company to capture the final objective.
Gratwick is buried in El Alamein Commonwealth cemetery, and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Museum of Western Australia in Fremantle, Western Australia. In Port Hedland, Western Australia, Gratwick Street, the Gratwick Aquatic Centre and the town theatre and community hall are all named in his honour
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gratwick-percival-eric-10344

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-P2002.108.1g

Item type

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 2

Year

1941

Links to additional resources

Hall of Valour

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia