Percival Beadel and the 24th Battalion

Many people have families who served in the two World Wars and some may even have some that were present during the landing at Gallipoli on the fateful day that became our national day, April 25^th, known as ANZAC Day. One family member who did serve at Gallipoli was not one of the original who landed, but the reinforcements who turned up after the August offensives, Lone Pine being part of this. Percival Thomas Beadel service number 820, arrived after the August campaign at the start of September. Percival served during the First World War for Australia.

Percival Thomas Beadel was from the small town of Officer near Melbourne in Victoria. On several documents within his service record he was a farm hand or labourer. He had written permission from his mother Mary to allow him to enlist at the age of 19. Percival joined what became known as the 24^th Battalion, which was part of the 6^th brigade. The 24^th brigade was formed so quickly during the first week of May 1915, they left at the end of that week and sailed for Egypt aboard HMAT Euripides. Percival was in D company within the Battalion. They had formed at such a speed that records had to be filled out and updated while the soldiers were on the boat.

After training in Egypt, the brigade was sent to Gallipoli. They arrived on the 5^th of September. Charles Bean, the Australian correspondent had been present when the 6^th brigade appeared and passed soldiers who had been on the peninsula since the start of the campaign in April. D company was located in an area of Lone Pine, where grenades and other explosives could be thrown back and forth between trenches occupied by the opposing forces. The area was known as Bloody Angle. Another use for tunnels throughout the Lone Pine location and others were the use of mines being placed and detonated to inflict damage and to collapse tunnels. This practise was used by both the ANZACS and the Turkish soldiers. The 24^th Battalion’s main role at Gallipoli was to defend the Lone Pine location until the day the entire force was evacuated.

Percival did not last for very long on Gallipoli. He became sick with what was later diagnosed as pneumonia when he was evacuated around the 25^th of September. Respiratory diseases linked under the term of influenza became common towards the end of August and into September where the spread of disease heightened amongst the soldiers, also known as a peak month. Percival was one of those who would have been evacuated, although many had stayed behind who were gravely ill. As of the 29^th of September 1915 there were 112 men from the 24^th Battalion in hospital. Within the Battalion diary this was classed as great sickness. Most of the disease that went through the ANZAC soldiers serving during the Gallipoli campaign between late August and October were of an intestinal nature. Divisions like the 24^th Battalion, which arrived during this time period, became sick soon after they arrived. At the end of October 1914, the 24^th Battalion had 149 sick that were evacuated, though some were returned to active duty.

After spending around 5 months away from the Battalion, Percival returned to the 24^th Battalion on the Western Front. Percival died on the 17^th of January 1917, where he had been wounded several days before. Before his death, Percival had been promoted to Corporal although it is unclear why he had been. Percival was buried in a cemetery in Rouen, France. According to the Battalion diaries they were around the locations of Thistle and Needle trenches when the structure Percival had been occupying had been hit.

Some of the Sources used

Australian War Memorial records on the 24^th Battalion

Michael B Tyquin, Gallipoli: The medical War

W.J. Harvey, Red and White Diamond – The official history of the 24^th Battalion.. Australian Imperial Force

Battalion diaries 24^th Battalion, AWM

Red Cross Enquiry into wounded and killed