CRICH PARISH

Crich, Fritchley, Whatstandwell, Bullbridge, Crich Carr, Coddington, Wheatcroft, Wakebridge

Charles Henry Perry (1890–1964)

Lance Corporal

Biography
Charles Henry Perry had an interesting military career. Born in September 1890, he attested at Matlock in August 1914, an unmarried miner at Wingfield Colliery who was living at Crich. He was one of the first volunteers once war had been declared. Serving with the Foresters, he entered France in June 1915 and then, in the September, was admitted to the Canadian General Hospital at Etaples suffering with otitis. After treatment he returned to his battalion, but a few weeks later in November he was diagnosed as having defective vision and was returned to the base depot at Rouen before being transferred to England and the Provisional Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, where he remained until February 1917. He was then sent as a reserve to work at Wingfield Manor Colliery, but in April 1917 he wrote to the Army stating that he was unable to work underground and asking what he should do.
“I was sent home from France (on or about the 18th of January 1916) owing to the vision of the right eye failing, suffering from rheumatism and bad discharge from the left ear. Eyesight was alright when I enlisted but cannot say what was the cause of failure, I never suffered from rheumatism prior to enlistment, but suffered from ear trouble about 12 years”
In May 1917 he was discharged from the Foresters on grounds of his disability, when his address was Church View House, Crich.
The Army wrote to Wingfield Manor Colliery querying whether he was still working there and received the following response –
“In reply to your enquiry this man started work underground but was unable to do it and we were not in a position to find him work on the surface so that at present he is not employed by us. Yours truly for the company, William Curzon.”
In August 1917 the Crich policeman, Sergeant Wyles, reported back to the Army what had happened to Charles (the copy in his record is very feint and parts are unreadable) –
“I have seen the above mentioned man today the 6th inst. He states he only worked one day in the pit after being transferred to Army Reserve but he could not stand it. He wrote to Lichfield asking what he was to do but got no reply. He appeared before ... board at Derby ... told to remain in ... He is now working at the Wire Works at Ambergate where he has been since last March. Wyles, Sergt 70”
The Officer Commanding the TF Depot at Derby then received the following communiqué –
“Please note that instructions have been issued to No 331238 Pte C.H.Perry to report to the Depot under your command for clothing &c. on 6/9/17. He should be posted forthwith to the 21st Notts & Derby Regt Frinton-on-Sea. This man is rejoining from Class W (T) T.F. Reserve”
At the same time Charles received his orders –
“To Pte. C.H.Perry (331238; 21st Notts & Derby Regt), Market Place, Crich – I again forward A.F. D463b for the purpose of joining the T.F. Depot Drill Hall, Derby on 6/9/17, I have been informed that the return of your protection certificate has been applied. The consequences if you do not present yourself on the date stated are fully given on the attached Form.”
In September 1917 he was at Frinton-on-Sea with the Sherwood Foresters; in November 1917 he transferred to the London Regiment; in March 1918 he transferred to the Suffolk Regiment Cycling Battalion, when he was promoted to unpaid acting Corporal; in July 1918 he transferred to the Gloucester Regiment when he was made paid Lance Corporal; in August 1918 he transferred to the Labour Corps before being demobbed in March 1919.

Charles H Perry married Martha A Berrisford in 1920 September qtr (Belper reg district). She was sister to John Stanley Berrisford

Medal Rolls Index
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star Medals

Army Service Record
He attested at Matlock on 26/08/14, an unmarried collier living at Crich. He was aged 24 years 1 month, grey hair, height 5ft 7in and weight 140lb. His date of birth was 12/09/1890. The next of kin was his father Charles Perry of the Market Place, Crich. Charles Henry suffered from an ear disability called Otitis Media. He was employed as a miner at Wingfield Manor Colliery.
He was awarded the British War, Victory and 15 Star Medals.
He served as a miner during his time in the army.
26/10/14 Attested; Notts & Derby, Home Service
26/06/15 Transferred to1/6 Notts & Derby
28/06/15 to 17/01/16 Exped. Force
28/06/15 Embarked Southampton for Rouen
23/07/15 In the field to No.2 Entrench Batt
12/09/15 Admission for Otits in the field
13/09/15 Gas clear station
14/09/15 Canadian General Hosp at Etaples
27/09/15 North Midland Base Depot at Rouen
07/10/15 To join Batallion in the field
07/11/15 Admission Defective Vision in the field
07/11/15 Base Depot Rouen
17/01/16 Transferred to England
18/01/16 Home
01/02/16 Attached from 1/6 to Provisional Btn Notts & Derby
28/02/17 Transferred to Class W/T/T F Reserve to work at Wingfield Manor Colliery
06/04/17 Form stating "I was sent home from France (on or about the 18th of January 1916) owing to the vision of the right eye failing, suffering from rheumatism and bad discharge from the left ear. Eyesight was alright when I enlisted but cannot say what was the cause of failure, I never suffered from rheumatism prior to enlistment, but suffered from ear troubleabout 12 years"
07/03/17 Letter from C.H.Perry to the Army stating he was unable to work underground and asking what he should do.
02/05/17 Rightfully transferred to class W of the Reserve
12/05/17 Discharged from 21st Notts & Derby (331238) on disability to Church View House, Crich
??/??/17 Letter from Wingfield Manor Colliery."In reply to your enquiry this man started work underground but was unable to do it and we were not in a position to find him work on the surface so that at present he is not employed by us. Yours truly for the company William Curzon
06/08/17 There is a Police Report from Belper dated which is very feint –
..."I have seen the above mentioned man today the 6th inst. He states he only worked one day in the pit after being transferred to Army Reserve but he could not stand it. He wrote to Litchfield asking what he was to do but got no reply. He appeared before ... board at Derby ... told to remain in ... He is now working at the Wire Works at Ambergate where he has been since last March. Wyles, Sergt 70"
29/08/17 To Officer Commanding TF Depot, Derby – Please note that instructions have been issued to No 331238 Pte C.H.Perry to report to the Depot under your command for clothing &c. on 6/9/17, He should be posted forthwith to the 21st Notts & Derby Regt Frinton-on-Sea. This man is rejoining from Class W (T) T.F. Reserve
29/08/17 To Pte. C.H.Perry (331238; 21st Notts & Derby Regt), Market Place, Crich – I again forward A.F. D463b for the purpose of joining the T.F. Depot Drill Hall, Derby on 6/9/17, I have been informed that the return of your protection certificate has been applied. The consequences if you do not present yourself on the date stated are fully given on the attached Form.
07/09/17 Rejoined from Class W/T/T F Reserve
20/09/17 Was recorded, on documents from Frinton on Sea, as with 21 Bn Notts & Derby (331238); height 5ft 8½, brown eyes, parents Charles and Eliza
23/11/17 Transfered to 30th Bn London Regt
12/03/18 Transferred to 2/6th Suffolk Reg Cyclist Bn
01/05/18 Appointed unpaid A/Cprl Suffolk Reg
13/07/18 Transferred to Glocester Regt 18th Bn as unpaid A/Cpr
15/08/18 Was recorded in documents as Lance Corporal with 18th Gloucesters (204744)
21/08/18 Transferred to Labour Corp
30/11/18 Posted ACLC
23/03/19 Demob

Newspaper Report

Derbyshire Courier, 23 November 1915
CRICH TERRITORIAL WOUNDED
Official confirmation has been received by Mr and Mrs Charles Perry of Crich that their second son Private Charles Perry of the 1/6th Sherwood Foresters has been wounded in action. The news was forwarded from the Lichfield Record Office, the weekend casualty list also contained private Perry’s name under the heading of "wounded". No details as to the nature of the injuries are given. The report stating that he was wounded on 11 October. Private Perry, who is in hospital in France has two brothers at the front. His determination to serve the colours is shown by the fact that it tried three times to enlist before he was accepted. In addition to this he walked in Nottingham and back in a fruitless attempt to join the Navy. He has been at the front since April.

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.

Charles Henry's three brothers George Geoffrey Perry, Arthur 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

1918 Crich voters
Charles Henry Perry, Market Place; absent on military service.

1939 Register: The Row, Lea Bridge
Charles Henry Perry b.12 September 1890; general labourer, hosiery works, ARP Derby CC
Martha Ann Perry b.1 June 1892
one closed file

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