4th Bn Worcestershire Regiment, KIA 16/8/17

[eyman]

I'm interested in learning more about 9613 Pte Thomas PERKS who was killed on 16 August 1917. I have his medal index card, Soldiers Died and CWGC details.

Does his number show when he enlisted in the Regiment? He seems to have been a pre-war regular, with at least one man with a similar number (serving in a different battalion) killed in 1914 and others in early 1915. Perks had arrived in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 which is consistent with his serving with 4th Bn throughout.

Does anyone know what the 4th Bn was doing on the date he was killed? Ancestry shows 23 from the Battalion dying on that date, so presumably a little more than a minor trench raid.

Thanks in advance for any help

Ian

[ralphjd]

Ian. according to my SDGW killed in action from the Worcesters on that date were as follows:- 4th Batt - 20; 1/7th Batt -22; 1/8th - 3 ; 2/8th - 1. Other men of the Worcesters died of wounds also that day. Ralph.

[Kevin Lynott]

Ian,

Thomas Perks is listed on the Kidderminster war memorial

PERKS Thomas Pte 9613 4th Bn Worcs Reg 88th Brig 29th Div KIA 16/8/17 aged 43 years.

The assault to take the Gheluvelt Plateau which had commenced on 31/7/17 was still floundering in the mud and struggling through the shattered woods which formed a barrier on the west of the plateau. The German artillery positions on Gheluvelt Plateau had still not been suppressed. There was therefore a consequent knock-on effect on subsequent planned operations. The proposed assault on Langemarck on the 14/8/17 was deferred to daybreak on 16/8/17, not for strategic reasons but due to the heavy rain. 88th Brig attacked along the Langemarck to Weidendreft Road to the north of Langemarck and succeeded in taking its objectives by 8:30am.

He is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No.2 II:A:23.

He was the eldest son of William and Mary Perks of the Hop Pole Inn, Pleasant St. He was married to Annie Elizabeth they had four children and lived at 2 Pitt St, Broadwaters. He landed with the Bn in Gallipoli on 25/4/16 and was WIA in November 1916. He rejoined the Bn in France in April 1917. He had two brothers who served, Samuel enlisted in June 1916 in the 11th Bn RBerks with the regimental number 26379, in April 1917 he was transferred to RE and given the regimental number 274395. After the war he lived at 1 House, 2 Court, Larkhill with his wife Florence who he married in 1909. The other brother, Percy served as 35290 in the 7th Wilts.

Kevin

[eyman]

Many thanks to Kevin and Ralph for the information that they've provided, in particular the detailed background from Kevin

Can anyone assist with a comment on when a soldier of this number might have enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment?

Ian