1915 Coo-ee March

Percy Walter HOLPEN

L. Cpl. W. Holpen, Redfern, Sydney. Died of Illness (Sydney Mail, 8/1/1919)

Per his military service record (regimental no. 2196), Percy Walter Holpen was born at Brisbane, Queensland. He gave his age as 21 years and 11 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as carter. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 9 inches tall, weight 172 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service. According to his Attestation paper in his service record he joined on 16^th October 1915, when the Coo-ees were in Wellington. He did a preliminary medical at Wellington on 16^th October 1915, and was provisionally accepted for enlistment at Dripstone by Captain Nicholas on the 19^th October 1915. He completed his medical on the 11^th December 1915 at Liverpool, and was attested at Liverpool on the same day, with his service dated from 16^th October 1915.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp and trained for the 15^th reinforcements for the 1^st Light Horse Regiment.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 84 Walker Street, Redfern, Sydney, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as father, Walter Holpen, 84 Walker Street, Redfern, Sydney, N.S.W.

On 21^st March 1916 Trooper Holpen departed Sydney on the HMAT A26 Armadale, arriving in Egypt on the 24^th April 1916. He was sent to the 1^st Light Horse Training Regiment at Serapeum.

On the 1^st May 1916 he was transferred to the 4^th Pioneer Battalion.

On the 4th June 1916 Private Holpen left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France, arriving at Marseille on the 11^th June 1916.

On the 10^th July 1916 Private Holpen marched out of the 4^th Pioneer Battalion whilst it was engaged in works in the vicinity of Fleurbaix, France, for transfer to the 46^th Battalion. He marched into the 46^th Battalion the next day whilst it was being relieved from the trenches in the vicinity of Sailly, France.

On the 25^th August 1916 Private Holpen was admitted to the 13^th Field Ambulance sick. On the 28^th August 1916 he was moved to the 1^st Australian Rest Station. On the 4^th September 1916 he was discharged to return to duty. He rejoined the 46^th Battalion the next day whilst it was resting at Rubempre, France, after coming out of the trenches in the vicinity of Poziers, France.

On the 1^st December 1916 whilst the Battalion was engaged on road making at New Charlton Camp, Bazentin, France,  Private Holpen was charged with insolence to an officer and absenting himself without leave thereby missing a duty which devolved to another soldier. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment no. 2 and fined one day’s pay.

On the 27^th December 1916 Private Holpen was charged with being absent without leave from 2100 on the 20^th December 1916 till 1330 on the 21^st December 1916 whilst the Battalion was training at new Carlton Camp, Baxentin, France. He was fined a total of 16 days forfeiture of pay.

On the 18^th January 1917 when the 46^th Battalion was manning the front line trenches in front of Fricourt, France, Private Holpen was wounded in action, receiving a gun shot wound to his chest. Private Holpen was evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station. On the 24^th January 1917 he was admitted to the 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France. On the 28^th January 1917 he was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Warilda at Le Harve, France, for transport to England. He arrived the next day and was admitted to the 1^st London General Hospital.

Private Holpen was discharged from the 1^st London General Hospital on the 24^th March 1917, and granted Leave, to report to the Training Depot at Wareham, England, on the 4^th April 1917. On the 10^th May 1917 Private Holpen was transferred to the 65^th Battalion that was training at Ludgershall, England.

On the 26^th June 1917 Private Holpen was charged with being absent without leave from 1200 on the 24^th June 1917 till 1530 on the 25^th June 1917. He was awarded 6 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeiture of 8 days pay.

On the 19^th September 1917 Private Holpen was transferred to the overseas Training Brigade for return to the 46^th Battalion and France.

On the 20^th September 1917 Private Holpen was charged with being absent without leave from 1700 on the 18^th September 1917 till 2200 18^th of September 1917. He was fined a total of 12 days pay.

On the 4^th October 1917 Private Holpen was charged with being found beyond the limits Field by AIF Depots Orders without leave. He was awarded one day Field Punishment no. 2.

On the 14^th October 1917 Private Holpen departed Southampton, England, for France, arriving at Le Harve the next day where he marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot. Private Holpen left the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot on the 18^th October 1917 to rejoin the 46^th Battalion. He arrived at the 46^th Battalion on the 19^th October 1917 whilst it was in action around Ypres, Belgium. On the 12^th November 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal while the Battalion was resting at Coyceques, France.

On the 25^th January 1918 the 46^th Battalion was conducting training at Perrone, France. Lance Corporal Holpen was charged with being absent without leave from 2100 on the 6^th January 1917 till 1830 on the 7^th January 1917. He was demoted to Private and fined 2 days pay.

On the 23^rd April 1918 a Field General Court Martial was held where Private Holpen had been charged with Desertion being absent without leave from the 31^st March 1918 to the 13^th April 1918. He was found Guilty and sentenced to 5 years Penal Servitude.

On the 20^th May 1918 the 5 year sentence was suspended. However, Private Holpen was soon in trouble again, being charged with escaping from confinement and being absent without leave from 27^th May 1918 to 1^st June 1918. On the 25^th June 1918 another Field General Court Martial was held where Private Holpen was charged with this offence. He was found Guilty and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour.

On the 27^th July 1918 Private Holpen was admitted to the No.7 Military Prison to undergo his 5 year and 2 year sentences concurrently. On the 7^th September 1918 the 5 years penal servitude was commuted to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour.

On the 19^th November 1918 Private Holpen was admitted to the 30^th General Hospital at Calais suffering from Influenza. On the 23^rd November 1918 Private Holpen was listed as seriously ill, and on the 26^th November 1918 he succumbed to the illness and died.

Private Holpen was buried at the Les Baraques Military Cemetery at Calais, France. Percy Walter Holpen has the rank of Lance Corporal inscribed on his headstone.

Percy Walter Holpen’s headstone, Le Baraques Military Cemetery, France (Photograph: H. Thompson 28/8/2014)

Percy Walter Holpen gave incorrect details about his age when he joined the Coo-ees. His father Walter Holpen gave the particulars on his Circular for the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour after the war, and said his son was only 20 years of age when he died.[1] He was born on the 9^th January 1898, according to his Queensland birth registration under the name of Walter Percival Holpen, the son of Walter and Sarah (nee Jackson) Holpen.[2] He would therefore have only been 17 years and 9 months of age when he joined the Coo-ees in Wellington on 16^th October 1915.

[1] ‘Percy Walter Holpen, AWM Roll of Honour, http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1635220/

[2] ‘Walter Percival Holpen’, Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922, Ancestry.com