Name
George Thomas Perry
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
42490
Essex Regiment
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POLYGON WOOD CEMETERY
H. 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead,
St Paul's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley
Pre War
George Thomas Perry was born in 1886 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Samuel and Eliza Perry, and one of eight children. He was baptised on 18 August 1886.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 18 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead where his father was working as an Ostler/Domestic Servant (Groom). In 1899 George left school to work for John Dickinson & Co Ltd at Apsley Mills and remained working there until enlistment. They remained in Chapel Street in 1901, but had moved to No. 25, by which time both George and his father were working at the Paper Mill.
He was a keen footballer and was known as a goalkeeper for Hemel Hempstead.
He married Ethel Lane, who also worked at Apsley Mills , on 13 October 1907 at St Paul's Church, Queen Street, Hemel Hempstead and they lived at 14 Chapel Street. His brother Walter was his best man and Ethel's sister Millie was her bridesmaid. They had daughters, Lilian in 1908, Marjorie in 1909 and Winifred in 1912, but their sons Ernest in 1911 and Leonard in 1914 both died in infancy. Their son Harold was born in 1916. They later lived at 42 Chapel Street.
On the 1911 Census George was working at John Dickinson & Co Ltd as a Paper Cutter, operating a guillotine.
Wartime Service
George volunteered in August 1916 in Hemel Hempstead and joined the Suffolk Regiment, being sent for training with the 3rd Battalion in Felixstowe. When he went overseas in 1917 he was posted to the 12th (Service) Battalion (East Anglian) Suffolk Regiment, but on arrival in France he was transferred to the 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment.
In August 1917 he saw action at the Battle of Hill 70, near Lens, with the Canadian troops and later was involved in the operations around Cambrai, afterwards being granted home leave to visit family and friends.
Back in France in early 1918, the 11th Battalion were in the Somme Sector and fought in the German Spring Offensive near St Quentin, followed shortly after by action near Bailleul in the Battle of the Lys, the 4th Battle of Ypres.
On 10 April 1918 the Battalion were in support at the Battle of Messines near Polygon Wood when they sustained casualties from 'friendly fire' of 6" howitzers which were shooting on the front and support line. Although not named in the war diaries it is likely that George was one of those casualties as he was recorded as killed in action on 11 April 1918, aged 32. He is buried in Polygon Wood Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow Ethel received a war gratuity of £7 10s and pay owing of £4 14s 5d. She also received a pension of £1 13s 9d a week for herself and her four children.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com
