100 days of heroes: English-born soldier Percy Binns declared his love for family and Australia in a letter to be sent home if he died

TASMANIAN Percy Binns was a Sydney ad-man when he joined the Australian Imperial Force in June 1916.

Advertising man Percy Binns is commemorated at tree #491 on the Soldiers' Memorial Avenue in Hobart.

ENGLISHMAN Percy Binns, 24, was working in advertising when he joined the Australian Imperial Force in June 1916.

The son of Aethelbert and Ann Binns was born in Yorkshire but the family moved to Tasmania and was living at “Birchlands”, 12 Bellevue Parade, New Town.

A former member of the staff of the Mercury, and its rival newspaper The World, he had also been the advertising manager for Brownell Brothers in Hobart and McDowell’s department store in George St, Sydney.

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Lieutenant Binns’ declaration about his date of birth.

After enlisting, Percy was selected for officer training and attended Duntroon. He sailed for England from New South Wales in June 1917 as a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion.

A fair-haired blue-eyed clean-living Methodist at home, he confessed to “slight smoking, lighter drinking” and a bit of strong language, in a letter to his parents from France.

On the afternoon on August 13, 1918, he was on patrol east of Harbonnieres. Encountering a heavily-manned enemy strongpost, Percy gave the order to charge.

About two metres from the strongpost, he was shot in the head and killed instantly.

After his death, Percy’s parents received a letter he had written to be sent only in the event of his demise.

Logo for 100 days of heroes in the Mercury newspaperhundred days of heroes

Mr and Mrs Binns made inquiries about his death and were informed — seven months later — that details of his burial were not known.

Despite his English birth, Percy expressed his love of all things Australian in his letter home, and expressed his desire to return safely.

“Whatever happens I am glad I joined up when I did — only sorry I didn’t join earlier — and would do it again if had my time over. The Germans have got to be beaten … if, I by losing my life — on my own free will — could win the war — I would gladly go and do it, my only regret being at leaving you all,” he wrote.

“After all my travels I haven’t seen a family like us — girls pretty and clever, and boys, though not pretty, with more than the average share of brains, and Father and Mother not to be equalled in all the world. That is not said just for effect, but really I have never seen any to equal you both.”

In 1942 the circumstances of his death were described Nulli Secundus: a History of the Second Battalion, AIF, 1914-1919 by F.W. Taylor & T.A. Cusack.

Quoting from the diary of a Lance Corporal Morgan, they wrote: “Reference was also made to the death of Lieut. Binns, who was killed while on patrol one afternoon near Lihons. Binns, a comparatively new officer, let his courage run away with his caution, for in a patrol during the morning of August 13 he had to be restrained by Pte Alex Orr, of C Company, who was with him. Binns, enthusiastic as ever, went out again in the afternoon, on this occasion being accompanied by a corporal and one man. A German outpost was encountered, and Binns rushed it, only to fall a victim to a German bullet as he reached the parapet.”

His body was never recovered and he has no known grave. Despite this, Lieutenant Percy Binns is remembered at tree number 491 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France and the Hobart Town Hall honour board.

Lieutenant Binns’ father inquires about his personal effects.