Eulogy 25 - A Salute to Stephen Percival (Percy) McGinty

 "LAY IN FIELD"

(Written by Warren Maloney - 3rd May 2025)



It is a military expression that always brings a pause after saying or reading. He “lay in field”! It has a simplicity of meaning that says “we never found his body parts, but we know he died in the battle.”

There is no comfort in the expression but rather a series of questions never to be answered.

Stephen Percival (Percy) McGinty[1] was 21 years & 6 months old when he lay in Field.

He had been a farm labourer on his parent’s property when he enlisted in July 19156, just 2 months after the Gallipoli ANZAC landings. He could ride – he could fix things – he could shoot – he wasn’t married – he was perfect for the urgent needs of the Australian Light Horse Regiment.

And joining up was the excitement of his hometown, Casterton! All the Farm boys & the Tradies were lining up – “not shirking their duty”.

By September 1915, he was on his way to the base camp in Egypt. And within 5 months he was in the action in Palestine tackling the Turks and the Germans – the last Glory Days and Charges of the Light Horse Regiment!

Of course, he was “a Lad” and 3 times over the next 2 years he went missing for a day or so – no doubt on a bender or playtime in the alleys of Cairo.

In October 1917, he was shot in the leg by a fellow Trooper who was playing with a stolen enemy pistol. No problems – really a flesh wound but a chance to lay up in hospital for a few weeks!

The next entry to his name was “3 May 1918 – Killed in Battle – Lay in Field”. No explanation was given to his parents. He was just another casualty – another brave farm boy!

As there was no body, sometime later they put plaques up at the Jerusalem Cemetery, the Casterton Town Hall, and the war Memorial in Canberra. They delivered his effects and his medals and the King’s Scroll of Thanks to his Dad 3 years later. They forgot one of the medals so that came a year later.

Somewhere outside El Arish, Palestine, Percy still lays in Field!


[1] Stephen Percival (Percy) McGinty (1896-1918) was a maternal Uncle of Norma Bradley, a maternal Aunt of Warren & Denise Maloney

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