Percy Montgomery Hanna

Percy Montgomery Hanna was born on 14 July 1896, at Walwa, Victoria, to Joseph and Elizabeth, nee Clyde, Hanna.

Percy enlisted on 31 August 1917 at Wangaratta, Victoria. Upon enlistment, he was a single 21-year-old grazier from Walwa, Victoria. He stood 5 feet 10 inches (155 cm) and weighed 140 lbs (64 kg). His complexion was described as clear, his eyes were blue, and his hair was dark brown. Percy’s records show that he had two vaccination marks on his left arm. Percy’s religious denomination was given as Presbyterian. He was given the rank of Trooper, the service number 2499 and placed in the 21st Reinforcements for the 13th Light Horse Regiment.

Percy embarked on HMAT A71 Nestor on 21 November 1917, sailing from the Port of Melbourne. The trip would take him across the Great Australian Bight to Fremantle, on to Colombo, in Ceylon, before finally disembarking at Suez, at the southern end of the Suez Canal, in Egypt, on 15 December.

After some initial training at the Australian camps near Suez, Percy embarked on HMT Abbassieh on 8 January 1918, disembarking at Southampton in the south of England on 24 January. Less than two months later, Percy would be admitted to the Military Hospital at Tidmouth, which was located close to the Army training grounds at Salisbury Plains in south-east Wiltshire.

Percy would be discharged from hospital ten days later and be sent to the Anzac Camp at Perham Downs. In mid-May of 1918, Percy proceeded overseas to France, eventually rejoining the 13th Light Horse on 14 August. After the Armistice and early in 1919, Percy was attached to the Australian Corps Headquarters for duty. Before heading home in May, Percy was given a substantial leave period in the United Kingdom.

While Percy was in France, a letter from his parents at home in Australia to the Officer in Charge of Base Records notes that the family was moving from their home at Bona Vista in Walwa, to 29 Wattletree Rd, Malvern. While his parents would move south to Melbourne, upon arriving home, Percy would remain in the Upper Murray, residing at Mt Alfred. At some stage, Percy’s parents moved to Hay, where their daughter, Daisy Isobel, had married Leo Headon.

Percy returned to Australia aboard HMT Ypiringa, arriving on 15 May 1919. He was finally discharged from the AIF on 27 August, 1919. For his service during the war, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Percy married Ruby (Nell) Ellen Donelan on 22 August 1923 in Melbourne. During their marriage, they had three children.

Electoral rolls list Percy and his family living at Walwa and, from 1930, at Hay, New South Wales. Percy passed away on 22 June, 1993, at Hay and was buried there.