Name
Maurice Nasmith Perrin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/04/1919
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WEYBRIDGE CEMETERY
2382.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath, Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
Born in Hampstead in 1887, Maurice Nasmith Perrin was the son of Henry and Ida Southwell (nee Robin) Perrin. His parents were married on 14 July 1886 at the Church of St Paul in Hampstead, Camden.
At the 1891 Census, Maurice was 4 years old and was living with parents and 2-year-old sister, Muriel at 67 Broadhurst Gardens in Hampstead. His father is 32 years old and is recorded as a warehouseman (buyer) with a birthplace of Paddington, in Middlesex. His mother is 30 years old, working as an artist sculptor, and was also born in Paddington. Both children were born in Hampstead. They also employed two servants, a nurse and a general servant.
At the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 23 Holland Villas in Kensington Town and both Maurice and Muriel were at school. Henry is now recorded as a Manchester Warehouseman and an employer. Ida is no longer working and her birthplace is now given as Bayswater. They now have three servants, a parlourmaid, a cook and a housemaid.
Whilst retaining their Kensington property, the Perrins purchased ‘The Cottage’ on Bushey Heath in about 1905. This is now the site of Hartsbourne Park apartments. They became committed members of St Peter's Church, Bushey Heath and when the Church rebuilding project was started in 1911, Henry served on the Building Committee and donated £1,100 (equivalent to £52,000 today) towards the total cost of £10,500 for the work.
Maurice was educated at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and at Cambridge. He was recorded in the Medical Students Register, with a registration date of 20 October 1906, having commenced his medical studies at Cambridge on 13 October. Whilst a student at Pembroke College, he had joined the Isaac Newton University Lodge of the Freemasons, with his initiation date in 1910. He graduated from Cambridge in 1913.
At the 1911 Census, the family was living at ‘The Cottage’, a substantial dwelling with 17 rooms. Henry was now a manufacturer and merchant of ladies and children’s clothing, Maurice was a B.A (Cantab) medical student, and Muriel is a student of sculpture at the Royal College of Art. Also present are Henry’s 49-year-old sister, Emily Perrin, and Joan Barker who is recorded as a school matron and his ‘wife’s companion’. They still have three domestic servants.
Wartime Service
Maurice took a temporary commission as lieutenant on 16 August 1914, in the first fortnight of the war, in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was promoted to Captain after a year’s service and served in France as a surgeon and medical officer.
He married Susan Frances Preston on 22 August 1917 at St James Church, Weybridge in Surrey. He was recorded as 30 years old, a Captain in the R.A.M.C. (Royal Army Medical Corps) and living at The Cottage, Bushey Heath. Susan was aged 23, and living at Careless Hope, Weybridge. Her father was a solicitor M.A. (Cantab).
Towards the end of the war in 1918, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged to form the Royal Air Force. Maurice transferred with the rank of Major until 1919, when he became medical officer for Castle Bromwich. He died on 28 April 1919, in a flying accident. He is remembered with honour at Weybridge Cemetery and is commemorated at St Peter’s Church, Bushey Heath.
The following is an extract from the 'British Aviation Archaeology Council' website [http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk], which states: “28/04/1919 Bristol F2, serial F5098, of 14 Aircraft Acceptance Park stalled and crashed on landing at Castle Bromwich. Captain Edwin Tufnell Hayne was killed and Major Maurice Nasmith Perrin died in hospital. Captain Hayne DSC (11/17) DFC (9/18) was born Johannesburg 28/5/1895, served in RNAS (becoming Flt-Sub-Lt 5/7/16) & RAF 1915-1919. He had claimed 15 enemy aircraft during the Great War. Perrin was born in Paddington and left a wife Susan Frances Perrin and daughter Moyra Robins. He had served as a medical officer throughout the war and was the medical officer for Castle Bromwich.”
There is an entry for Maurice in the National Probate Calendar for 1919, which states; PERRIN Maurice Nasmith of 23 Holland Villas-road Kensington Middlesex and of The Cottage Bushey Heath Hertfordshire died 28 April 1919 near Birmingham Probate London 12 August to Susan Frances Perrin widow and Henry Perrin warehouseman. Effects £14817 13s. 1d.
Additional Information
The Register of Soldiers’ Effects names Maurice’s widow, Susan, and his father, Henry, as joint recipients of his effects of £67 13s. 8d. Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
