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Sergeant Percival James Upston
Description
TitleSergeant Percival James UpstonSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionPercival was born at Leeston on 7 June 1895, youngest son of John and Mary Jane Upston, Selwyn. He was educated at the Dunsandel School, and on leaving school worked on his father's farm. He was a member of the Dunsandel Football Club and was one of its best backs. He was 5ft 6½ in tall with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. A distinguishing feature was a scar on his abdomen.
Percival enlisted on 19 April 1915 and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Sixth Reinforcements. He embarked on 15 August 1915 from Wellington. He joined the Battalion in Mudros on the island of Lemnos, 50 km from Gallipoli. After surviving the fighting at Gallipoli he was evacuated with the Battalion to Alexandria Egypt, arriving 27 December. Like others he was sent to Ismailia for training where he was transferred to the Machine Gun Company on 4 March 1916. In the reorganisation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which took place in early 1916, it became necessary to form a Machine Gun Corps, in accordance with the decision of the General Staff. The old Maxims previously used by the Machine Gun Sections were replaced by the new Light Vickers Gun. Also at Ismailia he was admitted to hospital with mumps on 8 February. However, he was recovered enough to embark for France on 6th April 1916 with the 1st Company on the on S.S. Ingoma. In the field in France he was promoted to Lance Corporal 29 May and promoted to full corporal on 28 February the following year after Corporal Lock was evacuated to Base Depot. He was detached to the Machine Gun School on 18 March 1917, and re-joined his unit, No.1 Company, on 9 April. He was promoted again to Sergeant to on 8th June but enjoyed his promotion for only a short time as he was killed in action on 31 July 1917, aged 22. After fighting through the Messines battle he had two weeks respite before the Machine Gunners took part in the second attempt to capture the small village of La Basseville, laying down a barrage to cover the advance of the Infantry. As his body was not recovered or identified his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand Percival is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and also the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NamePercival JamesLast NameUpstonFamilySingleDate of Birth7 June1895Place of BirthLeestonDate of Death31 July 1917Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death22
Percival enlisted on 19 April 1915 and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Sixth Reinforcements. He embarked on 15 August 1915 from Wellington. He joined the Battalion in Mudros on the island of Lemnos, 50 km from Gallipoli. After surviving the fighting at Gallipoli he was evacuated with the Battalion to Alexandria Egypt, arriving 27 December. Like others he was sent to Ismailia for training where he was transferred to the Machine Gun Company on 4 March 1916. In the reorganisation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which took place in early 1916, it became necessary to form a Machine Gun Corps, in accordance with the decision of the General Staff. The old Maxims previously used by the Machine Gun Sections were replaced by the new Light Vickers Gun. Also at Ismailia he was admitted to hospital with mumps on 8 February. However, he was recovered enough to embark for France on 6th April 1916 with the 1st Company on the on S.S. Ingoma. In the field in France he was promoted to Lance Corporal 29 May and promoted to full corporal on 28 February the following year after Corporal Lock was evacuated to Base Depot. He was detached to the Machine Gun School on 18 March 1917, and re-joined his unit, No.1 Company, on 9 April. He was promoted again to Sergeant to on 8th June but enjoyed his promotion for only a short time as he was killed in action on 31 July 1917, aged 22. After fighting through the Messines battle he had two weeks respite before the Machine Gunners took part in the second attempt to capture the small village of La Basseville, laying down a barrage to cover the advance of the Infantry. As his body was not recovered or identified his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand Percival is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and also the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NamePercival JamesLast NameUpstonFamilySingleDate of Birth7 June1895Place of BirthLeestonDate of Death31 July 1917Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death22
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDunsandel War MemorialLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryMessines Memorial to the MissingDunsandel War Memorial Ellesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingLabourerRegiment or Service19th April 1915Service Number6/2787Embarkation15th August 1915Place of EmbarkationWellingtonReinforcement6th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Sergeant Percival James Upston. Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/331