text: percy cherry percy herbert cherry , vc , mc ( 4 june 1895 – 27 march 1917 ) was an australian recipient of the victoria cross , the highest decoration for gallantry " in the face of the enemy " that can be awarded to members of the british and commonwealth armed forces . the award was granted posthumously for cherry 's actions during an attack on the french village of lagnicourt which was strongly defended by german forces . born in the australian state of victoria , cherry moved to tasmania at the age of seven when his family took up an apple orchard . becoming an expert apple packer , he was also a skilled rifle shot and member of the franklin rowing club . in 1913 , he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 93rd infantry regiment , citizens military force , and served as a drill instructor at the outbreak of war . enlisting in the australian imperial force in march 1915 , he served at gallipoli before transferring to the western front . in early march 1917 , cherry was decorated with the military cross following an attack on malt trench , in which he led a party in capturing two german machine gun posts . he was killed by a german shell the day following his victoria cross action . early life cherry was born on 4 june 1895 at drysdale , victoria , to john cherry and his wife elizabeth , née russel . when he was seven years old , the family moved to tasmania and took up an apple orchard near . cherry attended the local state school until he was thirteen , after which he received private tuition . he worked with his father and became an expert apple packer ; at fourteen he won a local case - making competition at the launceston fruit show by packing thirty - five cases of apples in an hour . joining the australian army cadets in 1908 , cherry soon became a sergeant and later a second lieutenant , where he used to drill cadets in four different districts . at the age of sixteen , he won the president 's trophy and gold medal for being the best shot at the rifle range in franklin . he also rowed with the franklin rowing club , played the cornet in the franklin brass band and sang in the anglican church choir . in 1913 , cherry joined the citizens military force and was commissioned into the 93rd infantry regiment as a second lieutenant . first world war enlistment , march 1915 to western front , march 1917 at the outbreak of war , cherry was sent to claremont camp and assumed duties as a drill instructor . on 5 march 1915 , he enlisted in the australian imperial force and was allotted to the 26th battalion , where he qualified as an infantry officer , but was considered too young for a commission in the australian imperial force and was instead made a quartermaster sergeant . on 29 june , the battalion embarked from brisbane for egypt with cherry aboard hmat aeneas . on arrival , the battalion spent several months training in the desert , where cherry was promoted to company sergeant major in august . on 12 september , the battalion landed at gallipoli and played a defensive role at courtney ’ s and steele ’ s posts , and russell ’ s top . on 1 december , injured by bomb wounds to his face and head , cherry was evacuated to egypt , where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 9 december . three days later , the 26th battalion was withdrawn from gallipoli and evacuated to egypt where cherry rejoined them in preparation for service on the western front . remaining in egypt during this time , cherry was selected to attend a machine gun course in march 1916 . after completion of this , he was transferred to the 7th machine gun company in france . he commanded the company 's 1st battery at fleurbaix , messines and on the somme until 5 august , when he was wounded in a duel with a german officer at pozières . he and a german officer — who was leading an attack against cherry 's position — were exchanging shots from neighbouring shell - holes . eventually , they both rose , firing simultaneously . the german officer hit cherry in the neck but was mortally wounded by cherry in return . cherry approached the dying man , who pulled a package of letters from his pocket , and asked cherry to have them censored and posted . cherry promised to do so and the german handed over the letters , with the words ; " and so it ends " . he died shortly afterwards . as a result of his wounds , cherry was evacuated to england for treatment . promoted to lieutenant on 25 august 1916 , cherry returned to his unit on the somme in november . the following month he was made a temporary captain and transferred back to the 26th battalion as the commanding officer of c company . his rank was confirmed on 14 february 1917 , and on 1 – 2 march he was involved in the battalion 's actions around the village of warlencourt . at 03 : 00 on 2 march , cherry led his company in an attack on the german held position of malt trench , situated between the villages of warlencourt and bapaume . artillery fire had failed to adequately cut the barbwire lines for the advancing troops , and cherry led a section of men along the wire until he found a break in it . once through the gap , he rushed two machine gun posts , capturing one single - handed , and turned one on the fleeing germans before being wounded himself . for his actions during the engagement , cherry was awarded the military cross , the notification of which was published in a supplement of the london gazette on 26 april 1917 . victoria cross on 26 march 1917 , the 7th brigade — of which the 26th battalion was part — was tasked with the capture of lagnicourt . it was during this engagement where cherry was to earn the victoria cross . an artillery barrage opened up on the village at 05 : 15 and continued for twenty minutes , allowing the infantry to close in . the plan was that cherry 's company would storm the village itself while the battalion 's other companies encircled it . for the assault , cherry split his company into two sections ; he commanded one section himself and placed the other under lieutenant william frederick joseph hamilton . the company was soon in action . cherry 's section captured a large fortified farm on the edge of the village . as they entered the muddy main street , the australians came under heavy fire from the houses lining the road and from an adjacent stable yard . cherry " rushed the stable yard " and a fierce firefight developed , before the germans surrendered . as cherry and his men moved through lagnicourt , they found the main resistance coming from a large chalky crater , " spotted with white chalk " , at the crossroads in the village centre . the germans ' stout defence was holding up the advance and cherry sent a messenger back for more stokes mortars . becoming impatient at the delay , cherry decided to rush the position under the cover of lewis gun and rifle grenade fire . capturing the crater , he found lieutenant harold hereward at the bottom wounded . had taken over command of the second section when lieutenant hamilton was wounded , and it had now been reduced to six men . after capturing the crater , cherry pushed on through the village , where his party emerged from among the buildings on the far side . another stiff fight ensured with a group of germans in dug - outs by the side of the road , before the company was able to meet up with its fellow units which had bypassed the village and were already established to the north and east of the area . cherry 's orders were to fall back into reserve , but he disregarded them as he sensed a counter - attack was forthcoming . at 09 : 00 on 27 march , the germans launched a very strong counter - attack under heavy artillery fire . at one point , cherry noticed that the germans were firing yellow flares to pinpoint australian positions to their gunners . he found some of these flares , and fired them away from his position . the german attempts to retake lagnicourt — at a cost to the 7th brigade of 377 casualties — raged all day before they abandoned the counterattack . death and legacy in the afternoon of 27 march 1917 , a shell burst in a sunken road to the east of lagnicourt , killing cherry and several other men . he was buried in quéant road cemetery , , plot viii , row c , grave 10 . the full citation for cherry 's posthumous award of the victoria cross appeared in a supplement to the london gazette on 11 may 1917 , reading : war office , 11th may , 1917 his majesty the king has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the victoria cross to the undermentioned officers and man : — 2nd lt. ( temp . capt. ) percy herbert cherry , m.c. , late aus . imp . force . for most conspicuous bravery , determination and leadership when in command of a company detailed to storm and clear a village . after all the officers of his company had become casualties he carried on with care and determination , in the face of fierce opposition , and cleared the village of the enemy . he sent frequent reports of progress made , and when held up for some time by an enemy strong point he organised machine gun and bomb parties and captured the position . his leadership , coolness and bravery set a wonderful example to his men . having cleared the village , he took charge of the situation and beat off the most resolute and heavy counter - attacks made by the enemy . wounded about 6 . 30 a.m. , he refused to leave his post , and there remained , encouraging all to hold out at all costs , until , about 4 . 30 p.m. , this very gallant officer was killed by an enemy shell . cherry 's victoria cross was presented to his father by the governor of tasmania , sir francis newdegate , in hobart during october 1917 . in 1932 , a photograph of cherry was unveiled at the headquarters of the 26th battalion , australian imperial force , at , brisbane . his victoria cross is currently on display at the australian war memorial along with his other medals .