2nd Lt
Albert Perkins

Information about birth

Year of birth:
1890
Place of birth:
Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

General information

Profession:
Architect

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Service number:
/
Units:
 —  Machine Gun Corps, 197th Coy.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
04/10/1917
Place of death:
Keerselare, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
27

Cemetery

Duhallow A.D.S. cemetery
Plot: I
Row: D
Grave: 31

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 2

#1 Place of birth
#2 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Second Lieutenant Albert Perkins - a 27-year-old architect from Loughborough, Leicestershire - was killed in action on the 4th of October 1917. He had married Marjorie Mary Andrews one month before shipping out to the Western Front. During the Battle of Passchendaele Albert served with the Machine Gun Corps, 197th Company, part of the 9th (Scottish) Division.

On 3 October 1917 the 197th Company moved forward in anticipation of an upcoming attack. Headquarters were established in Artillery House at the ruined village of St Juliaan. The 197th Machine Gun Company was to support the 11th and 48th Divisions. A group of machine guns under lieutenant Ward with 2nd lieutenant Perkins as second in command were to support the 48th Division’s attack on the hamlet of Wallemolen. They were to put down a machine gun barrage to cover the advance of the infantry.

All machine gun batteries were in position by 3.15 a.m. on the 4th of October. The guns of lieutenant Ward and 2nd lieutenant Perkins were positioned at coordinates C.6.d. near the hamlet of Keerselare and Vancouver Farm. The attack started at 6 a.m. and all guns opened fire to cover the advance.

The 197th Company was regularly shelled throughout the day. Around 9 a.m. 2nd lieutenant Albert Perkins was hit by a shell splinter. Albert died moments later. His remains were taken to the Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, where the young man was buried.

Files 2

Sources 4

Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Further reference
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2936537/perkins,-albert/
Sources used
The Long, Long Trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Sources used
War Diary Machine Gun Corps, 197th Coy.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Further reference