Percival Eric Gratwick
Private, 2nd/4th Battalion (South Australia). Australian Military Forces
- Register No.
- 482 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 2nd/4th Battalion (South Australia). Australian Military Forces (register: 2/48th Battalion, AIF) all 2/48th Battalion, AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 25–26 October 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 28th January, 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
- Born
- 19th October 1902 at Katanning, Western Australia
- Died
- 25th/26th October, 1942 at Miteiriya Ridge, Libya. (killed
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
On 25th/26th October, 1942 during the attack at Miteiriya Ridge, Western Desert, the platoon to which Private Gratwick belonged suffered a considerable number of casualties, including the platoon commander and sergeant. Private Gratwick, realising the seriousness of the situation, charged on alone and with hand-grenades, killed the crew of an enemy machine gun and an entire mortar crew. Under heavy machine-gun fire he then charged the second post with a 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
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GRATWICK, Percival Eric. (reg No. 482).
Private. 2nd/4th Battalion (South Australia). Australian Military Forces.
London Gazetted on 28th January, 1943.
Born on 19th October 1902 at Katanning, Western Australia.
Died on 25th/26th October, 1942 at Miteiriya Ridge, Libya. (killed in action).
Memorial at El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 25th/26th October, 1942 during the attack at Miteiriya Ridge, Western Desert, the platoon to which Private Gratwick belonged suffered a considerable number of casualties, including the platoon commander and sergeant. Private Gratwick, realising the seriousness of the situation, charged on alone and with hand-grenades, killed the crew of an enemy machine gun and an entire mortar crew. Under heavy machine-gun fire he then charged the second post with a 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.
in action).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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