Name
Alfred Perry
3 Oct 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/12/1914
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Bombardier
29436
Royal Garrison Artillery
109th Heavy Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LILLERS COMMUNAL CEMETERY
III. B. 22.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial(s), Hockerill
Pre War
Perry Alfred Edward Perry was born on 3 Oct 1886 in Bishop's Stortford to Edward Perry, a well sinker, and Louisa (nee Trundle), and was baptised on 25 Jul 1887 in Hockerill, Herts.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Ellen (born 1882), Edward (born 1883) and Alfred were living at 6 Bramblefields, Bishop Stortford. On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Edward (a wellsinker’s labourer), Alfred (coachbuilder’s boy), Bertie (born 1882), Albert (born 1884), Arthur (born 1886), Gertrude (born 1888) and Beatrice May (born 1900) were living at 1 Bramblefields, Bishops Stortford and on the 1911 Census Alfred was a boarder with Alfred with Alfred and Bertha Wybrew at 5 Kerhaldys Cottages, Burnt Mill, nr Harlow, Essex and his occupation was a Brass Finisher at a Marine Engineers.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Alfred. According to other records he enlisted at Hockerill with Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 29436. At some time Alfred was promoted to Bombardier.
He was posted to 109 Heavy Battery RGA, which was attached to 3rd (Lahore) Division on 20 Nov 1914 in France. 3rd (Lahore) was an Indian Army formation but comprised Indian and British troops, which had arrived in France at Marseilles in Sep 1914 before moving to the Ypres Sector. The troops of the Division launched an attack at Givenchy to provide relief for French forces on 19 Dec 1914. The Germans counterattacked on 20 Sep 1914 and there was severe shelling on the British Forces on 21 Dec 1914 when Alfred was wounded, he died of his wounds on 24 Dec 1914 at No. 3 Clearing Hospital, Lillers. France.
Additional Information
His father received a War Gratuity of £6 and arrears of £14 16s 0d. Brother to Albert Sidney Perry who died 2 July 1916 and Edward Perry who died 26 March 1917, both of whom are named on Bishop's Stortford & Hockerill Memorials.
The non-award of a 14/15 Star is difficult to explain, his rise to Bombardier would suggest that he may have already have serving prior to Aug 1914 but this has not been confirmed.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
