Albert Percival Schofield

Albert Percival Schofield, DCM (born 1896, died 17 February 1948)

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for an action during the First World War.

After the war Schofield was extensively involved in community works until the time of his death in 1948.

Schofield, born in Bowral, was the second son of Eli Schofield.He was one of four siblings.He was educated at Kangaloon Public School and Bowral District School.

He grew up on the family property of Fernleigh at Kangaloon.

Scholfield married Doris Hindmarsh in 1920.His children included three daughters and three sons.

He ran the Hillview property at Kangaloon, and was an advocate of scientific farming methods.He was a member of the local Agricultural Bureau, and was a consistent prize winner in pasture competitions.

Schofield enlisted on 19 June 1916 as a Private and returned to Australia on 19 June 1919, attaining the rank of Lance Corporal.He was posted with the 18th Australian Infantry Battalion.

Schofield was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

His DCM citation of 19 February 1920 stated:

For most conspicuous gallantry in the operations of 3 October 1918, near Estrees, north of St. Quentin. His company met with unbroken wire in front of the objective, and came under heavy machine gun fire. He found an opening through the wire, and rushed single handed, through the gap to a machine gun post which was holding up his company. He himself killed two of the crew, capturing the remaining four and the gun. He did splendid work.

During his service he was wounded including being gassed, events which later contributed to his early death.

At the time of his death, Schofield had been the president of the Burrawang Kangaloon Robertson sub-branch of the Returned Servicemen's League for 21 years.

Schofield was a delegate to the Southern Highlands District Council and a member of the executive of the Nattai-Bowral Repatriation Local Committee. He had held these positions from when the organisations were created.

He was a foundation member of the Advisory Committee of the Kangaloon Junior Farmers Club.

Schofield fought for improved conditions for the dairy farmer and an increased price for milk, and supported the Primary Producers Union.He was the Berrima District representative of the Milk Sectional Committee of the Union.

He was a committee member of both the Robertson and Berrima District Show Societies, and was chief steward for the Robertson Show.

Schofield was for a long time a trustee of the Kangaloon Methodist Church.

He was the secretary of the Kangaloon Public Hall Committee for ten years, of the Kangaloon Post Office Extension Committee, and of the Kangaloon Telephone Committee.He was a member of the Kangaloon Bush Fire Brigade.

Schofield was a director on the Berrima District Hospital Board.

During the Second World War Schofield was the secretary of the Kangaloon Patriotic Committee raising funds for various war related organisations.

He was variously the president and the secretary of the Robertson District Parents and Citizens Association.He travelled to Sydney and lobbied state MLAs for improved bus services for children travelling to Berrima for schooling, which was eventually achieved.