Percy Valentine Storkey

Percy Valentine Storkey, VC (9 September 1893 – 3 October 1969) was a New Zealand-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Citation:

For most conspicuous bravery, leadership and devotion to duty when in charge of a platoon in attack. On emerging from the wood the enemy trench line was encountered and Lt. Storkey found himself with six men. While continuing his move forward a large enemy party—about 80 to 100 strong—armed with several machine guns was noticed to be holding up the advance of the troops on the right. Lt. Storkey immediately decided to attack this party from the flank and rear, and while moving forward in the attack was joined by Lt. Lipscomb and four men. Under the leadership of Lt. Storkey, this small party of two officers and ten other ranks charged the enemy position with fixed bayonets, driving the enemy out, killing and wounding about thirty, and capturing three officers and fifty men, also one machine gun. The splendid courage shown by this officer in quickly deciding his course of action, and his skilful method of attacking against such great odds, removed a dangerous obstacle to the advance of the troops on the right, and inspired the remainder of our small party with the utmost confidence when advancing to the objective line. Source: The London Gazette, No. 30733, 4 June 1918.

Storkey left his VC medal to his old school, Napier Boys' High School. In 1983 there was a controversy when the school Parents' League wanted to sell the medal to finance student scholarships. Eventually the medal was transferred to the QEII Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru, New Zealand, where it is displayed on a long-term loan. A replica of his VC is also on display in the foyer of the assembly hall at Napier Boys' High School.

Biographies:

• Wikipedia contributors. "Percy Storkey." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia
• Warren Derkenne, 'Storkey, Percy Valentine (1893–1969)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University

Links:

• Cenotaph Record
• The AIF Project