Australian Dictionary of Biography

Percy Muir Dun (1894-1971), soldier, sawmill manager and grazier, was born on 9 October 1894 at Yawkecarba, Stroud, New South Wales, ninth surviving child of Thomas Dun, grazier, and his wife Elizabeth, née Miles, both native-born. He was educated at home and later worked as a storekeeper.

Dun enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force on 7 February 1916 and was allotted to the first reinforcements for the 35th Battalion; in May he embarked for training in England. Promoted lance corporal in September, he was posted to France in November and was made a corporal that month. The 35th Battalion went into the Armentières sector and, in the winter of 1916-17, gained valuable experience in raiding and patrolling. Dun's first major action was the battle of Messines in June 1917; badly wounded, he did not resume duty until 30 September and for gallantry at Messines was awarded the Military Medal and promoted sergeant in October. He was again wounded on 12 October in the 2nd battle of Passchendaele.

After resuming duty on 8 November Dun was commissioned second lieutenant and transferred to the 38th Battalion; he was serving with this unit when he won the Military Cross for gallantry in a raid on enemy trenches. The citation stated that he had 'led his men with great dash and determination, killing the crew of a machine gun and capturing the gun'. On 2 April 1918 he was promoted lieutenant and transferred back to the 35th Battalion. He served at Villers-Bretonneux in April, at Morlancourt in May and in the battle of Amiens in August. Though wounded on 8 August he remained on duty. Three weeks later, during the Battalion's attack on Curlu, he 'led his men splendidly through dense fog and on two occasions headed a charge against machine guns, capturing the guns and some forty prisoners'. His 'determined courage cheered his men and was largely instrumental in getting them forward'. Of this action a battalion sergeant stated: 'Lieutenant Dun really deserved the V.C.; his men would follow him anywhere'. He was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross but he had been wounded, for the fourth time, at Curlu and saw no further active service. In addition to his three decorations he was mentioned in dispatches.

Dun returned to Australia in June 1919 and his A.I.F. appointment ended on 28 July. After demobilization he worked in a sawmill at Glenreagh, New South Wales, and, by the time of his marriage to Violet Rachel Andrews on 22 April 1933, was the mill's accountant. He ultimately became manager, and retired in 1960. While employed at the sawmill he built up a grazing property in the district and continued to work it until his death. Survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, he died at Grafton of heart disease on 12 October 1971 and was buried in Clarence lawn cemetery, South Grafton.