Percy Gratwick was born on 19 October 1902 in Katanning, Western Australia. The son of the local postmaster, Percy worked several jobs after leaving school, at one point as a messenger at Parliament House. He also worked as a blacksmith, a drover, and a prospector.

Percy joined the Australian Imperial Force attempted in 1940. He had first tried to join up on the outbreak of the Second World War but nasal issues, caused by an earlier broken nose, saw him rejected.

After extensive corrective surgery, Percy was later accepted. Upon completion of his training, Percy was sent to Libya in North Africa arriving in July 1941.

In Libya, Percy was assigned to the 2/48^th Battalion, comprised mostly of men from Southern Australia. The Battalion was involved in the defence of Toburk but was later moved to Palestine.

By 1942, the 2/48^th was in Egypt in preparation for offensives under General Montgomery, specifically the Second Battle of El Alamein.

At El Alamein, Percy won the Victoria Cross, but sadly lost his life in an attack on Trig 29: a crucial high point overlooking Axis positions.

Gratwick charged headlong into a German machine-gun nest, disabling it with grenades, before attacking and overcoming a mortar pit – all singlehanded.

Under heavy fire, he charged a second post and disabled that too before finally falling. His actions saved many of his comrade’s lives.

The medal citation, published in the London Gazette of 28th January, 1943, gives the following details:

“During an attack at Miteiriya Ridge on the night of 25th-26th October, 1942, Private Gratwick's platoon was directed at strong enemy positions, but its advance was stopped by intense fire at short range which killed the platoon commander, the platoon serjeant and many others, reducing the platoon strength to seven.

“Private Gratwick, acting on his own initiative and with utter disregard for his own safety, charged the nearest post and completely destroyed the enemy with hand grenades.

“He charged a second post, from which the heaviest fire had been directed, and inflicted further casualties, but was killed within striking distance of his objective.

“By his brave and determined action, Private Gratwick's company was enabled to move forward and mop up its objective.

“His unselfish courage, his gallant and determined efforts against the heaviest opposition changed a doubtful situation into the successful capture of his company's final objective.”

Percy Gratwick now rests in El Alamein Commonwealth Cemetery.