PERRY James Laurence

James Perry was born 6th April 1892, the son of James Harry and Eliza Perry of Lye, Worcestershire.  He entered Old Swinford Hospital on 19th June 1900 and he left the school in August 1906 to go to Eveson Brothers, bucket makers of Lye.

Source for additional information: Old Foleyans Remembered Casualties of WW1 published by the Old Foleyans Association, October 1998.

James Perry enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 13th September 1915 at Adelaide, South Australia.  His service records contain 5 attestation forms which include the original and various duplicates and copies.  On all of the forms with the exception of one, he gives his place of birth as Unley, South Australia, his age as 23 years 5 months, his occupation as a plumber and his next of kin as his brother, Mr Edward Thomas Perry, 17 Liston Street, Parkside, South Australia.  James was 5 feet 8 inches tall with blue eyes, dark hair and a fresh complexion.

On 20th May 1916 James embarked at Melbourne, Australia but became significantly unwell during the voyage which resulted in him being disembarked at Capetown on 16th June 1916 and being taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with Euripides Syphilis. On 7th July 1916 the senior medical officer at No 2 General Hospital stated the probable duration of the disease would be 24 months.  With this diagnosis James re-embarked at Capetown for return to Australia on 13th July 1916.  He was detailed for light duty on 5th August 1916 after being discharged from No 7 Australian General Hospital. He was admitted to No 5 Australian General Hospital on 24th May 1917 with a diagnosis of measles.  James died at the hospital at 05.18 on 9th June from septicaemia and exhaustion.