{"id":982,"date":"2018-06-22T14:41:42","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T06:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/broomeanzacs.broomemuseum.org.au\/?page_id=982"},"modified":"2023-08-17T11:49:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T03:49:43","slug":"rodriguez-percy-john","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/broomeanzacs.broomemuseum.org.au\/?page_id=982","title":{"rendered":"RODRIGUEZ Percy John"},"content":{"rendered":"

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About Percy Rodriguez<\/h2>\n

Percy was the eldest son of Francis (Filomeno) and Maud Rodriguez, and is believed to have been the first white child born in Broome in January 1892. Percy schooled in Broome, and then at Christian Brothers Aqinas College in Perth and Xavier College in Victoria, where he was studying to be a dentist. He was a talented footballer and played over 20 games in the Victorian Football League for University & Melbourne before he enlisted for the war effort.<\/p>\n

Broome Connection<\/h2>\n

Percy’s family were among the first pearlers to arrive in Broome. His father Frances came over from the Torres Strait pearling fishery when the pearl beds were fished out. Frances built the Weld Club Hotel, and the Continetal Hotel. He was a member of the Broome Roads Board and had numerous other interests in Broome, as well as having one of the region’s largest pearling operations.<\/p>\n

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Joseph and Percy (right) Rodriguez. Courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia: 108415PD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

War Service<\/h2>\n

Percy underwent basic training at Broadmeadows Military Camp near Melbourne before embarking on the RMS Malwa<\/em> in March 1916.  He arrived in France via England in September 1916. Percy joined his unit, which was then stationed at the Somme on 23rd September 1916. Percy was promoted to Second Lieutenant from Sergeant on 3rd February 1917, but only held this position for 45 days, as he was killed on the outskirts of Noreuil in March 1917.<\/p>\n

Enlistment Details<\/h2>\n

\nDate of Enlistment: 01\/06\/1915
\nPlace of Enlistment: Melbourne, Victoria
\nOccupation: Dental student
\nAge at Enlistment: 23
\nService Number: 4478
\nUnit: 23rd Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
\nRank: 2nd Lieutenant
\nFate: Killed In Action
\nPlace of Death: Lagnicourt, France
\nDate of Death: 20\/03\/1917
\nCemetery or Memorial Details: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France 
\nPlace of Association: Broome, Western Australia, Australia
\nBroome War Memorial: 2Lt Percy Rodriguez<\/p>\n

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