Percy Gratwick

Gratwick was born in Katanning, Western Australia on 19 October 1902, the fifth son of the local postmaster.[1] Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Gratwick sought to join the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF).[1] Following completion of his training in July 1941, Gratwick embarked for Libya, where he was assigned to the 2/48th Battalion (a South Australian unit) with the rank of private.Gratwick, realising the seriousness of the situation, charged a German machine-gun position by himself, and killed the crew with hand grenades.In inflicting further casualties he was killed by machine-gun fire, but his brave and determined action, for which he would be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, enabled his company to capture the final objective.
KatanningMiteiriya RidgeEl AlameinSecond Australian Imperial ForcePrivateSecond World WarNorth African CampaignWestern Desert CampaignSiege of TobrukSecond Battle of El AlameinVictoria CrossAustralian recipientCommonwealthprospector2/48th BattalionSouth AustralianTobrukPalestineGermanmortarArmy Museum of Western AustraliaFremantle, Western AustraliaPort HedlandBill, GammageAustralian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian National UniversityThe London Gazette