Australian Victoria Cross Recipient
Private Percival Eric Gratwick
Unit
2/48th Battalion
Born
19 October 1902 at Katanning, Western Australia
Date of action
25-26 October 1942
Place
Battle of El Alamein, Egypt
Details
During an attack Gratwick’s company, advancing on the left flank, was forced to ground by well-directed fire from the elevated enemy positions. The platoon commander, platoon sergeant and many others in the platoon were killed, the total strength being reduced to seven. Gratwick then quickly got up and charged the nearest enemy post with a rifle and bayonet in one hand, and a grenade in the other. Throwing one grenade into the post, then another, he jumped in among the surviving defenders with his bayonet and killed them all, including a complete mortar crew. He then charged through heavy machine-gun fire towards a second post, and inflicted further casualties. Gratwick was killed by a burst of machine-gun fire just short of the enemy trench.
Died
26 October 1942
Buried or Commemorated
El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt
Current location of the VC
Army Museum of Western Australia, Perth