Name
Alfred George Perrin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/03/1915
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
L/12502
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panels 31 and 32.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Stapleford, Not on the Bengeo memorials, Not on the Watton-at-Stone memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Woodhall Park
Pre War
Born in 1890, in Bengeo, to parents James and Harriet Jane (nee White), he was one of seven, he was christened in Tonwell Chapel, Bengeo on 18th May 1890.
In 1891 they were living at Westmill Farm, Bengeo and his father was employed as a farm servant, by 1911 they had moved to Kingswell End, Kings Walden and his father was now a stockman on a farm. The 1911 census shows that Alfred was in 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment in barracks stationed in India. At the time of his death his parents were living at Home Farm, Woodlhall Park, Hertford.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of war, the 2nd battalion was garrisoning Malta after being transferred there from India in September 1913. After training at Hursley Park they were sent to France, arriving in France on the 7th November 1914. Between these dates and his death Alfred was transferred to the 2nd Battalion.
On 10th March the Allies launched the first major British offensive of the war; The Battle of Neuve Chapelle. It was the first large scale organised attack undertaken by the British army during the war and the Battalion suffered 467 Casualties during the bitter fighting. At first all went well, the village of Neuve Chappelle was captured by 10.00am. After two hours however, the attacks were called off as some battalions had suffered such heavy casualties, one of whom was Alfred. During the battle the Allies captured a salient 2000 yards long by 1200 yards deep at a cost of 7000 British and 4200 Indian troops.
Additional Information
One of his brothers, Harold Norman, also fought and fell in the war.
Alfred and his brother Harold are also commemorated on a headstone in Stapleford (St. Mary) Churchyard - believed to be their mothers. Their inscription reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF HAROLD NORMAN PERRIN, DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION APRIL 8TH 1918 AGED 19 YEARS.
ALSO OF
ALFRED GEORGE PERRIN, KILLED IN ACTION MARCH 10TH 1915 AGED 25 YEARS.
AND THE MOTHER GAVE IN TEARS AND PAIN
THE FLOWERS SHE MOST DID LOVE
SHE KNEW SHE SHOULD FIND THEM BOTH AGAIN
IN THE FIELDS OF LIGHT ABOVE.
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson, Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins
