Rex, Percy Hugh
SURNAME
Rex
NAME
Percy Hugh
PLACE OF BIRTH
Hobart, TAS
OCCUPATION
Prospector
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT
Claremont, TAS
DATE OF ENLISTMENT
30/10/1914
NEXT OF KIN
(mother) Mrs George Rex, 26 Patrick Street, Hobart, TAS (parents deceased); (brother) Mr William George Rex, 112 Campbell Street, Hobart, TAS
LINK TO DOUGLAS SHIRE
Living in the district when war broke out. He was younger brother of RD Rex who came from Tasmania and played a prominent role in the development of the Mossman community.
REGIMENT 1
15th Battalion AIF
RANK
Private
CAMPAIGN 1
Gallipoli
KILLED IN ACTION
24/05/1915, wounded in action at Gallipoli, died on board HMT "Galeka"; buried at sea near Lemnos.
OTHER INFORMATION
1914/15 Star No.12163; British War Medal No.9744; Victory Medal No.9704; Memorial Scroll No.308982; Memorial Plaque No.308982
STORY OUTLINE
Percy Hugh Rex was a younger brother of RD Rex, who had come to Mossman from Tasmania in the 1890s, married Gwendoline, daughter of the Mossman settlement pioneer RO Jones, and became a noted contributor to Mossman's development.
Percy was living and working in the district when war broke out. He went to Tasmania to say goodbye to his mother and enlisted, aged 34, while in Tasmania.
He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic on 22/12/1914. He was sent to the Gallipoli Peninsula on 12/04/1915, suffered a lung wound just a month later and died aboard the hospital transport vessel "Galeka".
He was buried at sea near Lemnos, the Greek island which served as a large British military camp pivotal for attacking the Gallipoli Peninsula.
He is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 49), Gallipoli, Turkey.
If he had survived the war, it is likely that he would have returned to the Douglas district.
SERVICE NO
1114
