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WW1
RATCLIFF, PERCY ALLEN
Studio portrait of 6237 Private (Pte) Percy Allen Ratcliff, 12th Battalion from Launceston, Tasmania. A 23 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 9 June 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 20th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 24 August 1916 aboard HMAT Botanist. While serving on the Western Front, he was wounded in action near Le Hamel, France on 11 August 1918 and died from those wounds on the same day. Pte Ratcliff is buried in the Daours Communal Cemetery, France. Sir, I ask you to publish these few lines respecting a beloved comrade. I feel sure gloom was cast over the districts of Barrington and Ridgley where he was so well known when the sad news reached home that hard fighting Percy Radcliffe had fallen in the huge European conflict that is still raging as I write in the sad, weary land of France. He died a hero’s death fighting for the great cause of justice and freedom. By jove, yes when I say fighting, for all the boys in the battalion gave him a title that he scores of time earned. He went away to reinforce the 12th leaving the “garden of Australia’ for the blood stained Western front in 1917. Percy’s first time in action was in the heroic effort to force our way into Bullecourt. He was wounded and sent to the base hospital. He returned to the battalion in time to take part in the re-taking of Polygon Wood better known as the battle of Menin Road new Ypres. He was in many other battles including Zonnebeke, Passchandaele Ridge and Messines. Then he was sent home to the motherland on 14 days furlough arriving back in France to help check the great German advance towards Amiens. A week later he was among the Australians who checked that advance at Hazlebrouck and drove the huns back through the Meteren after weeks of hard fighting. In the re-taking of Strazelle he was again wounded. He was not long away however. He rejoined his battalion in Flanders where he fought until sent back to the Somme to take part in the heroic effort to push the huns from that battlefield in June 1918. He was in many of the attacks and was with those who broke through the German lines and advanced several miles. At last he fell near Pozieres. If this is not hard fighting, what is? I must state that I met Percy at Ridgley eight years ago and we were like brothers. I found him a man and a soldier. He could look after himself and give good advice to others. He was a typical Tasmanian youth wiry and strong as his native bush and game as the fighting cock. Now his bones are resting in a soldier’s cemetery on the Somme and his soul has gone to a land of peace where he will mingle with old comrades who fell before him. The deepest sympathy goes out to his grief stricken parents, sisters and brother who are left to mourn in their sad loss. They may take it from me that he fought like a Briton and died as a soldier fighting for them. He did his duty. God rest his soul. From a pal who enlisted with him and served by his side. J. E Neasey Somewhere in France September 8th 1918 The Weekly Courier 26th December 1918 N.B. James Edward Neasey also won the Military Medal and returned to Australia 16th June 1919
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