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Name: PENHALLURICK, Percival Murray MC (Major)

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Birth Date: 1905 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Death Date: 1981 Mont Albert, Victoria

Nationality: Australian

First Date: 1938

Profession: Primary School Master in 1939, appointed 1939. Originally Educ. Officer 1938.

Area: Eldoret

Married: In Victoria, Australia 1945 Nina Stella Hood b. 6 July 1916 n. Melbourne, Victoria, d. 22 Sep 1999 Melbourne

Children: one

Book Reference: Staff 39, Sitrep 2, Bruce Mellor

War Service: KAR

General Information:

Pre-war volunteer to the Kenya Regiment (KR 815)
Bruce Mellor - King's African Rifles/ seconded to 2nd Ethiopian Battalion. Received Military Cross November 1941 for action at Fort Genda [Gondar] Ethiopia. He was born in Melbourne and was a Patrol Officer in Rabaul, New Britian [New Guinea] from 1925 until he was dismissed for discharging his firearm drunk in the town of Kavieng in 1931.
Bruce Mellor - MC citation - Percival Murray Penhallurick Lieutenant (local Captain), The King's African Rifles, attached 2nd Ethiopian battalion BMME MC LG 8 July 1943 - For conspicuous gallantry in action. On 11 Nov 1941 this officer was commanding 'B' Company of the 2nd Ethiopian Bn. During the attack on Genda fort. He led his company with outstanding courage, ability and dash. For 3 hours after the outer defences of the fort had been captured he attacked the main building which was strongly fortified, from a range of less than 100 yards. He led several assaults on this building with hand grenades and his sub-machine gun. He set a magnificent example to his Ethiopian officers and men, showing a complete and utter disregard for his own safety in face of the grenades, heavy rifle fire and light automatics which concentrated their fire on his positions. His personal example of courage was largely responsible for the capture of the outer defences of the fort and his conduct throughout the 4 hours of the attack was beyond all praise.
Percival Murray Penhallurick was an Australian who had an adventurous life, in the 1930s, in New Guinea and China. He became a close friend of the Emperor of Ethiopia. During the 1960s he was a colourful figure in the Antiquarian book trade in his shop at 123 Little Collins Street in Melbourne and was founder of the Cartophilic Society.

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