Percy Valentine Storkey VC

b. 07/12/1891 Napier, New Zealand. d. 03/10/1969 Teddington, Middlesex.

Percy Valentine Storkey (1893-1969) was born on 9th September 1893 at Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. His father, Samuel James Storkey was born in Norwood, Surrey, England. He moved to New Zealand with his own father, and married Sarah Edith Dean on 22nd January 1890 in Napier. Percy had four siblings – Marvel, Gertrude, Horace, and Alba.

Percy was educated at Napier Boys High School, where he was a Dux student in 1910, and was awarded the Board of Governors’ Gold Medal for general excellence. He was then educated at Victoria University College, Wellington, where he undertook the first year of an arts course, then moved to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia with his father late in 1911. He then enrolled at Sydney University between 1913-15, where he studied law, completing his studies and graduating after the Great War. While studying he also worked in the office of the Orient Steamship Co in 1911. He then worked for the Teachers’ College, Blackfriars, Surrey before joining the administrative staff of the University of Sydney in 1912.

Percy V Storkey VC

Having had five years service with the Wellington Infantry, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force as a private on 10th 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 14th November 1916 he joined his unit in France; five days later, while the 19th was attacking Gird Trenches north of Flers, he was wounded by a gunshot to the thigh. He was evacuated to England on 20th Novemberm abd transferred to 3rd London General Hospital next day. Promoted lieutenant in January 1917, he was again wounded having crushed his ankle on 10th October during the 3rd battle of Ypres. He was treated at No 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station and 7th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, before embarking for England. He was found unfit by the medical board for three weeks. He would not return to France until 3rd December 1917.

On 7th 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 presented with his VC in the quadrangle at Buckingham Palace by King George V on 22nd June 1918. 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 practised 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 15th 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 1953 he attended the funeral of Thomas Bede Kenny VC in Waverley, New South Wales with fellow VCs, George Cartwright, “Snowy” Howell and John Jackson. He also attended the 1956 VC Centenary Celebrations in Hyde Park, London, travelling with other Australian VCs on SS Orcades. He also attended the first three VC & GC Association Reunions at the Cafe Royal, London in 1958, 1960 and 1962.

In 1955 he retired and went to England with his wife to live at Teddington, Middlesex, where he died without issue on 3rd October 1969. His wife survived him. He was cremated at South West Crematorium, Hanworth, Middlesex, and his ashes were scattered on Lawn 3-B3. He is remembered in the Book of Remembrance and on a memorial plaque at the Crematorium. He is also commemorated with Storkey Barracks in Palmerston North, New Zealand, with Storkey Street in Napier, with Storkey Place in Canberra, on the VC Memorial in Campbell, Victoria, in the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance at Rookwood Cemetery, on the VC Memorial in the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, on the North Bondi War Memorial, and has a VC commemorative stone placed alongside 144 other overseas VC recipients at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.

In addition to his VC, he was also awarded the British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953. Storkey bequeathed his Victoria Cross to Napier Boys High School. In 1983 there was a controversy when the school Parents’ League wanted to sell the medal to finance student scholarships. There was a public outcry and the idea was scrapped. Eventually the medal was transferred to the QEII Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru, New Zealand, where it is displayed on long-term loan. A replica of his VC is also on display in the foyer of the assembly hall at Napier Boys’ High School.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: QEII ARMY MEMORIAL MUSEUM, WAIOURU, NEW ZEALAND.

BURIAL PLACE: SOUTH WEST CREMATORIUM, HANWORTH, MIDDLESEX.

ASHES LAWN 3-B3.