Name
Harry Perry
1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/11/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
50631
Bedfordshire Regiment
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TEWIN (ST. PETER) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
[TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE. DEAR BOYS TOGETHER FOR ALL TIME]
UK & Other Memorials
Tewin Village Memorial,
St Peter’s Church Muster Roll, Tewin,
Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Harry Perry was born in 1899 in Tewin, Herts, the son of James and Hannah Elizabeth Perry (nee Goodman) and was baptised there on 26 February 1899. He was one of 12 children, although two had died by 1911.
His parents married on 3 February 1879 at St Peter’s, Tewin. Harry was born on 9 January 1899 in Tewin, and baptised there on 26 February 1899.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Lower Green, Tewin, where his father was working as a Woodman, and although his parents were away on Census night in 1911, visiting his married sister Annie Anderson in Dulwich, Harry remained in Lower Green, Tewin with brothers Arthur and Charlie and sister Emily.
It is presumed he later lived in Watford as he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted at Watford and joined the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, however it seems that he died of pneumonia at Felixstowe before he was posted abroad and was not eligible for service medals. He was 19 years old.
Additional Information
A war gratuity was not admissible, possibly because he died before being posted, but his father did receive his pay owing of £3 16s 11d.
Brother to Walter and Charles Perry also named on the Tewin memorials.
His mother died in 1923 aged 66 and his father in 1931 aged 83.
The three brothers who died are also commemorated on the family headstone in Tewin (St. Peter) Churchyard - Harry is the only one of the three buried here. Their inscription reads:
THE BELOVED SONS OF JAMES AND ELIZABETH PERRY
WALLIE, - AGED 26, PTE. K.O.R.L. KILLED IN ACTION AT ARRAS. 26TH APRIL 1917(*1).
IN LOVING MEMORY FROM HIS DEAR WIFE
ALSO
CHARLIE, - AGED 21
SERGT. 11TH ROYAL SUSSEX REGT., KILLED IN ACTION AT ST. QUINTEN. MARCH 22ND 1918(*2).
ALSO
HARRY, - AGED 19, PTE. 8TH BEDS REGT. DIED AT FELIXSTOWE NOVR. 3RD 1918
TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE.
DEAR BOYS FULL STOP TOGETHER FOR ALL TIME.
*1 Officially his death is recorded as 30th April.
*2 Officially his death is recorded as 3rd April, perhaps he was reported as missing on the earlier date.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
