Lieutenant Percy Storkey, 19th Battalion, AIF, originally
from Hawkes Bay, New
Zealand, Victoria Cross action at Bois de
Hangard.
Percy Valentine Storkey (1893-1969), soldier and judge, was
born on 9 September 1893 at Napier,
New Zealand, son of
English-born Samuel James Storkey, printer, and his wife Sarah Edith, née Dean,
from Auckland. Educated at Napier
Boys' Grammar School and Victoria College, Wellington, he reached Sydney in
1911 where he worked as a clerk for the Orient Steamship Co. and then for the
Teachers' College, Blackfriars. In 1912 he joined the administrative staff of
the University of Sydney
and next year enrolled as a law student.
Having had five years service with the Wellington Infantry,
he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a private on 10 May 1915 and was commissioned
second lieutenant in September. A 'well-knit figure [5 ft 7½ ins (171 cm) tall]
with dark hair and eyes … a laughing face and dare-devil, happy-go-lucky ways',
he embarked for England
in December with reinforcements for the 19th Battalion. On 14 November 1916 he joined his unit in France;
five days later, while the 19th was attacking Gird Trenches north of Flers, he
was wounded. Promoted lieutenant in January 1917, he was again wounded on 10
October during the 3rd battle of Ypres.
On 7 April 1918
the 5th Brigade, of which the 19th Battalion formed part, was assigned to clear
the area north of Hangard Wood, near Villers-Bretonneux. Intelligence had
inaccurately reported that the wood was 'lightly held'. The attacking company
of the 19th, whose men were tired, lay down at the starting line at dawn.
Storkey, who was second-in-command, fell asleep and his company left without
him; it had advanced about eighty yards (73 m) when he woke. He caught up with
his men only to go through heavy machine-gun fire which had hit 25 per cent of
them even before the company's leading groups reached the edge of the wood.
Captain Wallach, the company commander, was shot in both knees and Storkey took
over, leading six men through head-high saplings to get behind the German
machine-gun force. Together with another officer and four men, they broke into
a clearing behind several trenches from where the Germans were firing at the
rest of Storkey's company. One of the Australians yelled when he saw the enemy,
some of whom looked around. For both sides it was attack or perish. Storkey
instantly headed the charge, engaging the nearest Germans before they had fully
reacted. His party killed or wounded thirty of them and the
survivors—comprising over fifty men—surrendered. Storkey's confident and
determined leadership had given the impression that he led a larger force than
the handful visible to the Germans. He was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was
later again wounded in action and in May promoted captain; he returned to Australia
in November and his A.I.F. appointment ended in January 1919.
Resuming his studies at the university, he graduated LL.B.
in 1921 (while holding an appointment as associate to Justice Sir Charles
Wade). Admitted to the Bar on 8 June, Storkey practiced in common law before
being appointed to the New South Wales Department of Justice as crown prosecutor for the south-western
circuit. He held this post for eighteen years. On 15 April 1922 he married an English-born divorcee Minnie
Mary Gordon, née Burnett, at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Sydney; they
made their home at Vaucluse. At the Bar Storkey was 'practical and realistic',
his outlook being tempered by humour and compassion. In May 1939 he became
district court judge and chairman of quarter sessions in the northern district
of New South Wales. There he became an identity, making many friends and being
recognized for his quick assessment of character and for his sound common
sense. He was 'good looking, with dark hair and a shortish, well-built figure,
always well dressed'. In 1955 he retired and went to England
with his wife to live at Teddington, Middlesex, where he died without issue on 3 October 1969. His wife survived
him. Storkey bequeathed his Victoria Cross to his old school at Napier. His
portrait by Max Meldrum hangs in the Archives
Building, Wellington.
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