Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Arthur Perkins, a general house painter, born 1852 in Leicester and his wife Annie Perkins (nee Dilkes), born 1853 in Leicester, Frank was a shoe trade finisher and was born in 1892 in Leicester, his siblings were George, a chair framer, born 1883 and Annie, a boot trade examiner, born 1887, both his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1911 the family home was at 49, Mornington Street, Leicester. On Tuesday January 30th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “POSTED AS A DESERTER” – Leicester Soldier Who Died For His Country.- A sad mistake has been made by the military authorities through posting as a deserter Private Frank Perkins, of the Leicester’s, who bravely died for his country on October 14th last. His widowed mother, who lives at 49, Mornington Street, Leicester, was officially notified of her son’s death on the 28th October last. It was naturally a sad reminder to Mrs Perkins when a police officer called upon her a few days ago in respect of her deceased son, and she learnt that he had been posted as a deserter. The officer at once saw that a mistake had been made by the military authorities – not, it is said, the first of the kind in Leicester. Private Perkins who was 25 years old, joined the forces in February 1916, and had previously worked, from leaving school, with Messrs. J. Leeson and Son., boot manufacturers. Much sympathy will be felt for Mrs Perkins in the matter. It should be understood that the police are in no way to blame. They receive orders from the military authorities to arrest soldiers named, and it is only in carrying out these instructions that a mistake, if one has been made, is discovered, as in this instance. The War Diary for today records. HOHENZOLLERN SECTOR. Two men killed, four men wounded.