PERKINS Joseph

1911 Census
101 Hillside, Martley
Joseph Perkins, age 32, Woodman (Estate)
Winifred Maria Perkins, age 31, married 5 years
John Perkins, age 4
Florence Alice Perkins, age 2
Winifred Perkins, age 1 (Winifred died in 1919 aged 9)
Frank Perkins (who died in 1911 aged 1 month)

Joseph Perkins had previously served in the Boer War (1901-1902) and on 26th October 1914 he enlisted with the Worcestershire Regiment 8th Battalion Reserves, service no 3432TF/241045, as a Private.  In October 1915 he was appointed acting Lance Corporal, this appointment was confirmed in February 1916.  He was then transferred to the 17th Gloucestershire Regiment in May 1917, service no 291494.  He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France from June 1915 to July 1916 where he was gassed.  He was discharged on 6th July 1917 as being no longer physically fit for War Service.

Information given in the United Parish Magazine, St Peter’s Church, Martley of March 1915 shows Joseph Perkins as serving in the 8th Worcesters.

No casualty with this name and regiment appears on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database or on Soldiers Died in the Great War.  The death of Joseph Perkins, aged 41 is recorded under the Worcester registration district in the March quarter of 1921.

A note in the Rector of Martley’s diary gives the following information:
Joseph Perkins died in a sanatorium after 3 years of suffering the effects of being gassed during the War.  Son of John and Louisa Perkins of Berrow Green, Martley.  Husband of Winifred Maria (nee Millward) of Hillside Martley.  Father of John, Alice, Winifred (died aged 9), Frank, Edith Mary and Elsie May.  Buried in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church, Martley on 9th March 1921 with full military honours.