Captain William Jackson Perkins - 28th Div Signals Company

[Treaders]

Hi, 

 

I’ve been researching a great grandfather of mine, William Jackson Perkins (jnr), who was in the 28th Div Signals Company during the war and fought in France and Salonika. He was awarded a Military Cross and I’m trying to find out what for but with no luck so far. I can’t find any citations and there is no reference to it in the relevant war diary. Is there anywhere else I should be looking?

 

All the best,

 

Jamie

[PRC]

A check of the Medal Index Card shows he was originally in the 5th Battalion Queens Regiment before transferring to the Royal Engineers. 5th Battalion, Queens were a Territorial Force unit.

 

Although the clerk has added O.B.E and M.C in the name section, there is no corresponding London Gazette reference and no separate card that I could track down for his Military Cross. There is however a reference to the issue of an Emblem which I believe means he received a Mention in Despatches.

 

I used Google to search the London Gazette, (the website search engine is diabolical) and found a number of references to William Jackson Perkins – possibly some are the father. But none of the post-war military related matches include reference to him having a Military Cross.

 

I then tried a search for a Military Cross card for an W.J. Perkins of the Royal Engineers. Instead what I found was a medal card for the Mention in Despatches of a Lieutenant W.J. Perkins, (temporary Captain), Royal West Surrey Regiment (Territorial Force). London Gazette reference 1st January 1916, Page 32,

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29422/supplement/1

This was in connection with Sir John Frenchs’ Despatch of the 15th October 1915, according to the front page of the Supplement.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29422/supplement/1

 

So do you have another source for him having received the Military Cross?

Or is it possible an error by the clerk who prepared the MiC?

 

Cheers,

Peter

[alf mcm]

This page from the Edinburgh Gazette of 7th January 1919 mentions Captain {A/Major} William Jackson Perkins M.C. 5th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment {T.F.}. 

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/13381/page/116

There should be an earlier entry in the London Gazette, by a few days.

 

Regards,

 

Alf McM

[Treaders]

Hi Peter, 

 

Thanks for your reply. I have the London Gazette reference and the index card for his MC, and it is well known in the family that he received one. As with a lot of soldiers however, he never spoke about what he got it for! Very frustrating! I've checked the war diary and asked relatives but no luck so far... 

[Mark1959]

Top left

 

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29438/supplement/585

 

if you go back a number of pages it says it is a 1/1/16 award so a New Year’s Honour. So there will be no specific citation. 

[Treaders]

So does that mean there was no specific reason/incident for the award, or if there was, it's unlikely I'll be able to find any more info? 

[Mark1959]

Correct. Awards in New Year’s Honours may be seen as for distinguished service rather than for a specific incident. 

Edited 27 March , 2020 by Mark1959

[HarryBrook]

The London Gazette notifications for his two mentions in despatches:- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29422/supplement/32 and https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31152/supplement/1474

 

and the O.B.E. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31095/supplement/74