6490 Bandsman Albert Joseph Perris, 2nd Bn, Highland Light Infantry

Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that 315 British Army officers and men died on this day, 3rd November, in 1914. Eight of these men were serving with the Highland Light Infantry and the longest serving of these men was 6490 Bandsman Albert J Perris who was killed in action whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion.

Albert was born in Limerick on the 22nd December 1881. His name appears in the GRO regimental indices and in fact there are two entries, one noting Royal Engineers and the other noting Army Service Corps, Commissariat and Transport Corps. A check through pension records in WO 97 reveals that his father was Barnstaple-born James Perris who enlisted with the Army Service Corps in February 1890 aged 42 years and 11 months, having previously served for 22 years with the 45th Regiment of Foot and with the Royal Engineers. He had first enlisted in April 1864 at the age of 18. James Perris had married Mary Ann Ahern at Limerick in 1879 and the couple went on to have seven children: Mary Rose Perris (born Limerick, 1880), Albert Joseph, Maud Elizabeth (born Gibraltar, 1883), Walter Francis Perris (born Gibraltar 1884), [unclear, crossed out, but possibly Anna Rosa Perris] (born Gibraltar, 1885), William Valentine Perris (born Woolwich, 1887) and Robert John Perris (born Woolwich, 1891).

Albert enlisted in London in September 1897 and although no service record survives for him, he is named in the Highland Light Infantry Chronicle. The dates below refer in each case to the date that the particular volume of the HLI Chronicle was published.

October 1909: Re-engages to complete 21 years with the colours
January 1915: Appears in a list of NCOs and men killed or died of wounds
Jul-Oct 1915: Name appears in a list of unclaimed soldiers' balances. Amount unclaimed: £19 9s 8d.
October 1916: Name appears in a list of unclaimed soldiers' balances as above.

Albert's name also appears in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour and in the eight-volume, Ireland's Memorial Records. He has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 38 of the Menin Gate.

 

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

 

Medal index card courtesy of Ancestry.