Arthur Perry (1894–1948)

Gunner

Royal Field Artillery    

Biography
Arthur was born in 1894 and worked as an underground colliery pony driver. He joined the Army in 1914. A newspaper report dated 20th January 1917 stated that Arthur’s brother Maurice had been wounded; it also stated that Arthur and Charles Henry had been wounded – serving on the Western Front, Arthur was wounded in 1916 and sent to a hospital in Lancashire. Arthur died in 1948 and was buried with military honours at Dinnington Cemetery.

Medal Rolls Index
Unsure as there are several Arthur Perry men in the records. It is likely that he would have been awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star Medals the same as his brothers received.

Newspaper Reports

Belper News and Derbyshire Telephone, 13 November 1914
ROLL OF HONOUR
Perry Joseph, Crich
Perry, Charles, Crich
Perry, Arthur, Crich
Perry, Maurice, Crich
[there were other Crich men recorded]
Belper News, 21 July 1916
CRICH WOUNDED
Pte Arthur Perry (RFA) son of Mr Chas. Perry, of the Market Place, Crich, who has been in the recent advance on the Western Front , has arrived at St Helen's Hospital, Lancashire. Mr Perry has three sons in the Army

Derbyshire Courier, 23 February 1918
CRICH, LEA & HOLLOWAY
Soldiers over on leave during the week include Dispatch Rider Herbert Mercer (R.E.), who came on Sunday. He has been in France since September, nineteen fifteen, and was last on leave about ten months ago. Lance-Corporal John Curzon, of the Tors, has been over, having recently recovered from shrapnel wounds in his shoulder. Cpl Herbert Cooper, of Fritchley, another wounded soldier, came over last Friday, after spending three weeks in Southampton Hospital, suffering with trench foot. He came from the Arras front. Driver Samuel Lynam, son of Mr F.J.Lynam is another Fritchley soldier over from France. Signaller Arthur Bowmer, one of the four soldier sons of Mr and Mrs John Bowmer, of the Cross, came from France on Tuesday. Signaller Arthur Perry, Machine Gunner, Maurice Perry, and Private Charles Perry, the three fighting sons of Mr and Mrs C.Perry of the Market Place, have also been over together. The two former have been in France for about three years, never met each other. Maurice has been wounded and gassed four times.

Derbyshire Times, Friday, 23 January 1948
CRICH AND DISTRICT
A telegram of congratulations from the King and Queen was received by Mr and Mrs Charles Perry, of West Bank, Crich, on their diamond wedding anniversary on Thursday week. The happiness of the family party was marred by the recent death of their son, Mr Arthur Perry, who was buried with military honours at Dinnington Cemetery on the preceding Tuesday. He was an ex-serviceman of the Great War and was gassed while on service. His death took place in Sheffield Infirmary. A widow and four sons are bereaved.

Suspect his wife was Amy Mason possibly sister to the Mason brothers on the Roll of Honour but unproven.

Arthur's three brothers George Geoffrey Perry, Charles Henry Perry and Maurice Perry are also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Market Place, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Charles Perry Head 34 Greengrocer and hosiery machinist Crich
Eliza Perry wife 33   Smallheath
Walter Perry son 12 Scholar Crich
Charles H Perry son 10 Scholar Crich
Arthur Perry son 6 Scholar Crich
Maurice Perry son 4   Crich
Gertrude Perry daughter 2   Crich
George G Perry son 1 mo   Crich
Mary   mother in law 72    

RG13 piece 3231 folio 21 page 33

1911: Market Place, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Charles Perry Head 44 Lace frame factory hand Crich
Eliza Perry wife 43   Smallheath
Walter Perry son 22 Wire trimmer Crich
Charles Henry Perry son 20 Wire trimmer Crich
Arthur Perry son 16 Colliery pony driver underground Crich
Maurice Perry son 14 Colliery pony driver underground Crich
Gertrude Perry daughter 12   Crich
George Geoffrey Perry son 10   Crich
Ruth Perry daughter 7   Crich
Margaret Perry daughter 5   Crich

RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN140

1939 Register: 6 Chamberlain Terrace, Durrington, Kiveton Park, Yorkshire
Arthur Perry b.27 September 1894; colliery surface haulage driver, ARP War Reserve, Special Constable
Amy Simpson (Wilkinson, Perry) b.3 December 1901
Arthur Perry b.2 May 1924; colliery surface worker
one closed record