Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Ernest James Perry, a cement tester, born on the 25th November 1871 in Harlington, Bedfordshire and baptised on the 26th May 1872 in St. Mary’s Church, Harlington (son of James Perry, 1826-1899 and Sarah Evans, 1829-1895) and his wife Sarah Ann Perry (nee Freer, married in the July quarter of 1891 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born on the 7th March 1872 in Sileby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 8th May 1872 in Loughborough, Leicestershire (daughter of Joseph Freer, 1850-1913 and Eliza Ward, 1847-1918). Alfred Frederick was born on the 5th December 1899 in Sileby, his siblings were, William Harold, born on the 22nd March 1892, Ruth, born on the 25th January 1894 and Arthur, born on the 29th September 1898, all his siblings were born in Sileby, in March 1901 the family home was at Swan Street, Sileby. In April 1911 Alfred was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Swan Street, Sileby, together with his father, a cement tester, his mother and siblings, William, a motor cycle shop assistant, Ruth, and a boot trade office clerk, Arthur, a schoolboy, Nellie, a schoolgirl, born on the 18th October 1902, Frank, a schoolboy, born on the 4th November 1905 and Elsie, born on the 4th December 1910, the latter three siblings were all born in Sileby.
Alfred enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps on the 10th December 1917.
He gave his civilian occupation as hosier, presently in the employ of Messrs H. L. Driver Limited, Sileby.
His description on engagement recorded that he was 5-feet 6½ inches in height and had a chest measurement of 32½ inches.
He gave his next-of-kin as his father, Ernest Perry, 16, Swan Street, Sileby.
The following information is taken from his record of service.
Enlisted. 10/12/17.
Allotted. Service Number. 110756.
Joined R. D. Airman. 1/4/18.
Appointed. Flight Cadet. 17/6/18.
Transferred. To I.S.A.G. (R). 7/7/18.
Transferred. To A.F.C.S. 20/7/18.
Discharged. To Temporary Commission. 2/8/18.
Reported missing. While flying. 27/10/18.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. 28/10/18.
Alfred’s service record as a commissioned officer was not researched.
[recognitum XV-I-MMXXIII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Alfred Frederick Perry was the son of Ernest and Sarah Ann Perry and was born at Sileby on the 5th December 1899. He was one of at least eight children born to them. Ernest worked as a cement tester at Ellis's works in Barrow. The family lived at 16 Swan Street for the duration of Alfred's life. When Alfred left school he found employment as a hosiery apprentice at Driver's factory on Barrow Road from September 1915 until November 1917 .

Alfred enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps on the 10th December 1917. He was 5 foot 6½ inches tall and his fitness was rated A1. Initially Alfred trained as an Air Cadet. From the 29th June 1918 he attended the RAF's Number 1 School of Aerial Gunnery at Hythe, Kent, as an Observer. On the 3nd August he started a temporary commission to 2nd Lieutenant as an Observation Officer. He joined his unit in the field in France on the 11th August 1918. As part of N Flight he took off on a mission in a Bristol F.2b Fighter aircraft (serial D7919) on the 27th October. His pilot was Lieutenant John Brown, a Canadian. They never returned and were reported missing. Eventually they were both pronounced killed in action, which was presumed to have been on the 28th October.

Submitted by A. S. Beardsley Hough in 2020