Military History

Embarked from Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ for Egypt 9.6.1915.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 7th Reinforcements, 16th Battalion.
Kingsbury disembarked with the 7th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion at Suez. Kingsbury entrained to Alexandria, joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) and embarked per HT ‘Ivernia’ for Gallipoli 4.9.1915. The 16th Battalion were evacuated with other Australian troops from Gallipoli, the 16th disembarked at Alexandria 10.1.1916. There was a period of re organization of the 16th Battalion. Kingsbury was transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion 11.3.1916. He embarked with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at Alexandria for France 19.3.1916 and disembarked at Marseilles 26.4.1916. The 2nd Pioneers moved to the Somme Valley. Kingsbury was hospitalized with defective vision 17.5.1917. He was admitted to the 85th General Hospital with a septic left arm 15.8.1917. Kingsbury was transferred to the 7th Command Depot, and then to Boulogne. He marched in to the Base Depot 17.9.1917 and joined his unit in the Field 4.10.1917.
He took a week’s leave in London and was reported Absent Without Leave (AWOL) for a day, between the 6th and 7th February 1918. He continued to serve with his Battalion in France until January 1919 and may have served at Hamel, Bullecourt and Amiens. On 30.1.1919  Kingsbury and his Unit embarked in France for Weymouth,England.  Kinsbury was listed for return to Australia.
Embarked Devonport for Australia per ‘Anchises’ 28.2.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Albany 7.3.1919.
Final Rank Private, 2nd Pioneer Battalion.
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Percy was one of 3 Kingsbury brothers who served in WW1. His brothers were Harold (SN 34367) and Victor (SN 978). Percy later lived at 10 Stephen Street, Guildford. WA.

Photo 5 West Australians in France(l-r) P.Kingsbury, A.Allen, W.L. Bile, Wm. Blaikie, Walter Blaikie.Photograph source Swan Express 9.3.1917 p5            
           HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
            Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph source AWM P2194.005
            Australian Troops at Albert on the Somme. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E0016

Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial.
AWM P2194.005. ustralian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph sourced from thePictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial.
AWM E0016. Australian Troops at Albert on the Somme. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Percy Frank Kingsbury
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford Volunteer Fire Brigade Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Kingsbury P F
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
Swan Express
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

97 Terrace Rd. Guildford, WA.

Associated Images