PERRY, Percy


No.16669, Private, Percy PERRY
Aged 23


1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on 24th April 1915


Percy PERRY was born at 12 Primrose Hill, Haverhill on 14th March 1892 (Risbridge Q2-1892 4A:700), baptised in St Mary's, Haverhill on 20th November 1892, son of Frederick and Mary Ann PERRY(née BOGGIS)

1901 census...Aged 9, he was at 12 Primrose Hill, Haverhill with his father Frederick PERRY [44] mat weaver born Long Melford; his mother Mary Ann [40] hair drawer, born Long Melford; his brothers William E [11] and Horace [4]; sister Maud [7].All the children were born in Haverhill.

1911 census...Aged 19, a horse hair drawer, he was still at 12 Primrose Hill with his parents; sister Maud (sewing machinist) and brother Edward [9] born in Haverhill. His mother had lost 2 of her 6 children.



The South West Suffolk Echo of 14th October 1916 reported that:-
"Mr. & Mrs. F. Perry, of 12, Primrose Hill, have recently been informed that their son, Pte. Percy Perry, of the Suffolk Regt., was killed on 24th. April 1915. He was previously reported missing on the date named."


He enlisted in Haverhill
The war diary from 9th April to 9th May 1915 appears to have gone missing, so we must use Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment":-

April 22nd was the first real use of gas by the Germans. On the night of 23rd/24th the battalion went back into reserve between Frenzenberg and Verlorenhoek, no billets, they had to bivouac under hedges.
On the morning of 24th they were put to work digging in on the ridge astride the Ypres-Zonnebeke road. An officer appeared from Division to say the 1st Suffolks and 12th Londons were to advance northward, adding the Germans had broken through and only these two battalions stood between the Germans and Ypres. Captain Balders sought advice from Brigade and was given authority to advance and try top establish a base in the ruins of FORTUIN.
As soon as they set out the enemy barrage increased. On the way to FORTUIN, they came across a hard pressed Canadian unit and the decision was made to assist them. Being made aware that the Germans were already in St Julien. "A" and "B" Companies reinforced the Canadian left flank, whilst the rest took up a position covering FORTUIN, the 12 London being on the right.After digging all night the Suffolk who were put in the open managed to construct a fire trench over 4 feet deep with traverses.

CWGC put the deaths in the 1st Suffolks on 24th at 50, only 6 have known graves.



Percy Perry is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, panel 21

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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