A tribute by his son, Keith, presented during the Caloundra Centaur Commemorations, 14 May 2015
Pte Percy Lewis Clegg was a member of the medical staff assigned to AHS Centaur. He was my father.
Percy Clegg was born in Sydney on November 28, 1903. His parents, William Charles and Emily Maude Clegg moved to Pratten on the Darling Downs, Queensland, when Percy was young.
He was educated at the Pratten State School, and later completed a number of Correspondence Courses including English/Writing and Automobile Mechanics.
He farmed with his brother, Les, at “Sunnyside”, the family farm at Pratten. He was renowned throughout the district for his horsemanship and as a horse breaker. At various times he worked at the ISAS sugar mill, as a shearing contractor and shearers’ cook, and at the “Netherby” cattle stud outside Warwick. And prior to his enlistment in the AIF he was a baker and bread carter in Warwick.
Percy married Priscilla Marjorie Matthews in 1933. She was the eldest daughter of Alderman R.W. Matthews of Warwick. 
They lived on a small farm, “Heatherleigh”, at Mile End outside of Warwick. The farmhouse was built in the 1890’s, had no electricity and was dependent on a rainwater tank as a water supply. Lighting was with Aladdin Lamps and the “refrigerator” was the meat safe that hung under the tank stand. The farm had a large poultry run and sold eggs, chickens and pullets, and table birds. Percy bred champion fowl as a hobby and won many grand champion awards at the Warwick and Maryborough Agricultural Shows. He was also an excellent cook and developed a collection of special recipes.
I was born at “Heatherleigh” on March 29, 1936, Keith Matthews Clegg.
Percy was very patriotic and served in the 11th Light Horse Regiment as a trooper in Warwick Group, A Squadron. He was one of the first to join the VDC (Volunteer Defence Corps) when it formed in Warwick. He enlisted in the AIF in September 1942.
MV Centaur, a vessel of the Blue Funnel line was requisitioned by the Australian Navy as a hospital ship and outfitted at Williamstown, Melbourne, in January 1943. Percy was selected as a member of the AHS Centaur Medical Staff in January 1943 and his initial training was as an orderly. His training was then upgraded at Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital, Brisbane, to that of a theatre orderly/assistant, and then upgraded further to perform theatre technician duties on AHS Centaur.
Centaur left Williamstown for Sydney on March 12, 1943, where additional outfitting work took place. She then left for Brisbane after completion of the refit together with some of the Medical Staff (doctors and twelve nurses), and arrived at Dalgety’s Wharf at Teneriffe, Brisbane, at 1400 hrs on Wednesday, March 23, 1943.
The next day the remaining Medical Staff joined the ship. Percy Clegg was one of those who joined the ship that day.
The Brisbane medical group were given leave on the days before boarding Centaur and Percy went home to Warwick. While on leave he rode his pushbike from Warwick to the Pratten family farm, about 30 miles, to say goodbye to his mother, and the story has become a treasured family memory of Percy.
Centaur’s second voyage as a hospital ship was Brisbane to Port Moresby and return. Among the wounded being returned to Brisbane were twelve wounded Japanese POWs. One of the POWs gave Percy some Japanese invasion money that he sent home to me. Percy wrote a letter home every week and often the letters would arrive together in a bundle. While in Sydney waiting for Centaur’s departure on her fourth voyage Percy went to Taronga Zoo and bought the Zoo Book for me and took it with him on that fateful voyage.
Centaur was on her fourth voyage as a hospital ship, Sydney to Port Moresby via Cairns, when Japanese Submarine, I-177, torpedoed her east of the southern tip of Moreton Island at 0410 hrs, Friday May 14, 1943.
Pte Percy Lewis Clegg of the AAMC lost his life that day. He was 39 years of age.
The effect of Percy’s loss on his family was devastating. I was seven years old, and an only child. My mother’s health was severely affected; the spectre of Centaur haunted her, and she suffered bouts of depression for the rest of her life. We left our farm and never returned.
While I have little memory of my father, I do have vivid memory of the day that the first telegram arrived, Monday May 17, and it read: “It is with deep regret that I inform you
…”. I was at school when a grim faced headmaster came into the classroom and told me that I had to go home. I sensed that something was seriously wrong and I walked the three-mile walk home very slowly, hoping that the problem would go away before I arrived.
The second telegram confirming the first telegram arrived two days later, Wednesday May 19. My mother never recovered from the news in that first telegram.
Much has been said about the Brisbane Service at St John’s Cathedral and the HMAS Manoora Service at Sea being closure for Centaur families. However I do not believe that there will ever be closure, because the wound inflicted by the tragedy cut deep, and the wound has never healed.
And while there may never be closure, there is satisfaction:
- Satisfaction in the knowledge that the final resting place of Centaur has been
- Satisfaction that Centaur is now a War Grave protected from intrusion and forever a sacred
- Satisfaction that Centaur has National
The Clegg families will forever honour the memory of Percy Lewis Clegg, this present generation and generations to come.
-Keith Clegg (son of Percy Clegg).
Centaur Day at Caloundra was everything that Centaur families on the Sunshine Coast could hope for. Erica Costigan OAM reports as follows:
Our Centaur Park becomes a very special location in Caloundra on the 14 May each year, and this year a considerable group of supporters, both local and from far away, gathered to pay tribute to all who were on board the hospital ship on that fateful day 72 years ago.
On a slightly cool and gusty yet pleasant autumn morning, the Caloundra Centaur Committee members, plus our RSL Sub Branch Committee and members, mingled with our “Centaur family”-ie those who have a family connection or close involvement with those in the tragedy.
A very moving and most informative address was given by Keith Clegg, only child of Pte. Percy Clegg who perished in Centaur’s tragedy. Keith’s son Paul, later placed the wreath on behalf of the 2/3 AHS Centaur Association. Beautiful wreaths were also laid on behalf of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, our State and Federal Members, the Centaur Memorial Retirement Village, many Community Services and organizations, as well as some RSL groups and Committees including of course, our Centaur Committee. The Coast Guard vessel cast a wreath on the ocean just off shore from our group at the Memorial.
We shared Morning Tea at the RSL afterwards.
From the May 2004 edition of the newsletter also by his son, Keith Cleg.
Pte Percy Lewis Clegg was one of the ship’s medical staff on AHS Centaur.
Percy Clegg was born in Sydney on November 28, 1903. His parents, William Charles and Emily Maude Clegg, moved to Pratten (Qld) when Percy was young.
He was educated at the Pratten State School, and on leaving school, farmed with his brother, Les, at “Sunnyside”, Pratten. He was renowned throughout the district as a horse breaker. He was keen on self-improvement and undertook many correspondence courses. He was engaged in shearing, worked on cattle properties and at the Isis Sugar Mill. He also worked at the “Netherby” cattle stud farm, Warwick.
Percy married Priscella Marjorie Matthews in 1933. She was the daughter of Alderman R. S. Matthews of Warwick. The couple lived on a small farm at “Mile End” outside of Warwick and it was there that their son Keith Matthews Clegg was born on March 29, 1936.
Prior to his enlistment in the AIF in 1942, Percy had been the bread carter in Warwick. He served with the 11th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron, located in Warwick, and was one of the first to join the VDC on its formation in Warwick.
Percy Clegg was one of the medical orderlies who joined the Centaur in Brisbane on March 23, 1943.
At 0410 hrs on May 14, 1943, the Centaur was torpedoed. Percy Clegg was one of the ship’s medical staff who lost his life that day. He was thirty nine years old.
I place a flower beside a plaque, each year on the 14th of May,
I remember
my Father with pride in my heart,
and silently say,
“Your grandchildren and their children too,
are happy & free,
And on Centaur Day,
I will always remember thee!”