Percival John Owen (SN 4276) born at Ballarat, was an 18 year old iron moulder when he enlisted in Melbourne on July 20th 1915. Assigned to the 14th Infantry Battalion he embarked for overseas service on December 29th. Discipline issues were common in his early days in Egypt and England, among them a charge of being improperly dressed as he was not wearing a belt. He reached France in December 1916 then in April 1917 he was listed as missing in action. On April 11th he had been captured at Reincourt and became a prisoner of war at Dulmen in Germany. When the fighting ceased he was repatriated to England where he arrived in December 4th 1918. He was returned to Australia aboard the Nevasa, disembarked on Anzac Day 1919 and was discharged on August 4th.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Percy Owen.