Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Perkins, a shoemaker, born on the 12th July 1843 in Leicester and baptised on the 12th July 1843 in St. Martin’s Church, Leicester (son of James Perkins, 1816-1887 and Mary Anne Barsby, 1814-1886 Swingler) and his wife, Emily Perkins (nee Thornton, married on the 5th April 1866 in St. George’s Church, Leicester), born in the April quarter of 1848 in Leicester (daughter of Joseph Thornton, 1803-1882 and Maria Berry (nee Bent), 1808-1884). Ernest was born in in the July quarter of 1886 in Leicester, his siblings were, Arthur, a box maker, born on the 10th October 1868 and baptised on the 19th June 1879 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, Emily, a shoe trade machinist, born on the 12th March 1871 and baptised on the 19th June 1879 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, Clarence, a shoe trade finisher, born on the 12th August 1873 and baptised on the 19th June 1879 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, George William, a box maker, born on the 8th February 1876 and baptised on the 19th June 1879 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, Ada, a schoolgirl, born on the 30th March 1879 and baptised on the 19th June 1879 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, Walter, a schoolboy, born on the 26th September 1881 and baptised on the 6th June 1882 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, John Henry, a schoolboy, born on the 14th January 1884 and Horace Alonzo, born on the 4th March 1891, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 9, Chancery Street, St. John’s, Leicester.
In March 1901 Ernest was employed as an errand boy and was residing in the family home at 93, Cavendish Road, Aylestone Park, St. James the Less, Leicester, together with his father, a shoe trade riveter, his mother and siblings, Clarence, a gas works labourer, Ada, a corset trade worker, Walter, a grocer’s traveller, John, a yarn warehouse stock keeper and Horace.
Ernest’s father in December 1911 at 29, Luther Street, Leicester, aged 68 years and was interred on the 16th December in Gilroes Cemetery, Groby Road, Leicester.
In April 1911 Ernest was employed as an iron foundry worker and was residing in the family home at Back 13, Havelock Street, St. Andrew’s, Leicester, together with his wife, Elsie May (Chritchlow, married in the July quarter of 1907 in Leicester), a boot trade worker, born on the 29th March 1890 in Leicester (daughter of George Critchlow, 1864-1923 and Kate Padgett, 1863-1909) and their children, Winifred Beatrice, born on the 17th September 1907 and baptised on the 29th May 1912 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester and Herbert Clarence, born on the 17th March 1909 and baptised on the 29th May 1912 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester, both children were born in Leicester.
Ernest and Elsie had two further children, Kate May, born on the 1st April 1912 and baptised on the 29th May 1912 in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicester and Ernest William, born on the 21st November 1913, both children were born in Leicester.
Elsie died at 2, Havelock Cottages, Havelock Street, Leicester on the 10th November 1916, aged 26 years and was interred on the 14th November in Gilroes Cemetery, Groby Road, Leicester.
Ernest’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 17048.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 3/5/15.
Admitted. To No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, gunshot wound. 5/6/15.
Transferred. Per 16th Ambulance Train. 5/6/15.
Posted. To 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Embarked. From Marseilles. 10/11/15.
Disembarked. At Alexandria. 17/11/15.
Embarked. From Port Suez. 23/11/15.
Disembarked. At Basra. 8/12/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 6-7.1/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Ernest’s sole legatee was given as the Clerk of the Guardians, Leicester Union.
The War Diary records: 6 Jan-16 – Right Bank Column Operation Orders for 6th issued. Extracts from Right Bank Column Operation Orders and Battalion Orders. First day of battle of SHAIKH SA’AD. March was to have been resumed at 8.00am with intention of bivouacking that night at bend of river immediately up-stream from SHAIKH SA’AD but was much delayed by heavy mist. At about 10.00am march was resumed, the Battalion forming part of the Main Body, 53rd SIKHS (F.F.) leading. On nearing HIBSH, at about 12.00 noon, the enemy were reported in an entrenched position, about 2 miles South East of SHAIKH SA’AD, extending from river bank for some 1500 yards. The Battalion now deployed into line of Companies in fours, at 50 paces interval, and 200 yards in rear of 56th (F.F.) RIFLES. Battalion continued advance in this formation, and was eventually ordered to prolong this line to the left of 53rd SIKHS (F.F.) in echelon at 200 yards distance. At about 2.00pm orders were issued to attack this position and advance to the bend in the river at SHAIKH SA’AD. The attack commenced with units of the Brigade in following formation: - 56th RIFLES (F.F.) on the right, 53rd SIKHS (F.F.) in echelon 200 yards distance to the left, 2nd LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in echelon 200 yards distance to left of 53rd SIKHS (F.F.), the 51st SIKHS (F.F.) being in reserve. The Battalion advanced in the following formation (distance from the enemy’s position now about 1500x)
Firing line: “B” Company (2 platoons) 200 yards width – “A” Company (2 platoons) 200 yards width
200 yards gap
Support line “B” Company (2 platoons) 200 yards width – “A” Company (2 platoons) 200 yards width
400 yards gap
Battalion Reserve line “D” Company 200 yards width – “C” Company 200 yards width
200 yards gap
Battalion Reserve (Major Henderson) “D” Company 200 yards width – “C” Company 200 yards width
The attack progressed and was met by very heavy rifle and machine gun fire. At 3.06pm message was forwarded to Brigade stating enemy’s cavalry working round left flank of the Battalion. At 3.18pm report forwarded to Brigade stating enemy’s firing line extended a long way to left of Battalion, that enemy had reinforced their firing line and that the Battalion had only one double Company (“D” Company) in reserve (“C” Company having reinforced the firing line). At 4.00pm message received from Brigade in reply to our L I 9 (Appendix XIII) stating cavalry and Brigade Machine Gun Company assisting on left flank. The advance continued and at 4.30pm Officer Commanding “B” Company was ordered to advance in echelon to the rest of the line, keeping his left slightly thrown back. At 4.35pm Major HENDERSON, Commanding Battalion Reserve, was instructed to bring the rest of the reserve (“D” Company) gradually closer. After suffering considerable losses, the firing line reached a line about 500 yards from enemy’s trenches. Here it became evident that the enemy’s line was thrown forward and that the left of the Battalion was becoming enveloped. There was considerable movement of the enemy round the left flank of the Battalion, and it was from there subjected to enfilade fire. It was now obvious that any further advance would, without reinforcements being sent up to take on the enemy’s right, be extremely inadvisable. At 5.00pm a message explaining the situation was despatched to 28th Brigade. The whole line of the Brigade was therefore ordered to entrench itself and establish a strong position during the night, from which the attack could resume the next day. A message was accordingly sent out to Officers Commanding Companies, the left flank of the Battalion (“D” Company with 2 Machine Guns) being to some considerable extent thrown back. During the days operations the following casualties occurred: - Wounded – Captain McINTYRE, 2nd Lieutenant’s SWINDELLS, REDWOOD, GWYTHER (died of wounds 8/1/16), GODFREY, FRASER, PRIVETT (died of wounds 10/1/16). During the night ammunition supplies and rations were brought up, and Companies were reorganised. For dispositions of Companies during night see rough sketch. The Regimental Stretcher bearers, who did excellent work under Lance Corporal QUEENAN throughout operations, brought in the killed and wounded of the Battalion and other regiments. The ammunition supply worked extremely well. Enemy kept up a continuous rifle and machine gun fire during the night.
The War Diary records: 7 Jan-16 - At 11.12am orders were received that the attack would shortly be renewed on both banks. In the meantime, enemy’s line was subjected to bombardment from 28th Battery ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. Orders were received to renew the attack at 2.00pm, the Battalion moving forward as soon as 53rd SIKHS were seen to leave their trenches. The 92nd PUNJABIS had now been attached to the Brigade to support the attack on the left of the Battalion. “A” and “B” Companies advanced in short sharp rushes, supported by “C” Company, “D” Company being kept close up in reserve under cover. The advance progressed in spite of very strong opposition and “D” Company was thrown in, the whole Battalion finally carrying out the assault successfully over about 300 yards. Two of the Battalion machine guns pushed along the nullah X Y towards X, greatly assisted the advance in first enfilading Turkish trench P and later distributing their fire along trench Q. The Battalion was splendidly supported throughout by one section of the 28th Battery ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, the Forward Observation Officer advancing with his telephone immediately in rear of the Battalion. The enemy’s trenches were occupied and quickly put in a state of defence, while, from both ends of these trenches a line of entrenchments was extended for some considerable distance, the left flank being well turned back. About 80 prisoners were taken by the Battalion, and a large quantity of rifles, ammunition, equipment etc. Many dead and wounded Turks were found in the trenches. The Battalion buried 62 enemy dead on its section of trenches. Enemy sniped to some extent during the night from our left flank. The following casualties among officers occurred during this day’s operations. Officers killed Lieutenant DOWDING and Lieutenant ROYCE. Wounded Captain SUTHERLAND, 2nd Lieutenant BILLINGS, 2nd Lieutenant BELLE and 2nd Lieutenant BUCKINGHAM. Other ranks killed and wounded on operations of the 6th and 7th January totalled 303.
On Saturday February 5th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private E. PERKINS, 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, killed in action in the Persian Gulf operations on January 6th, was 28 years of age, and leaves a wife and four children residing at 2, Havelock Cottages, Havelock-street, Leicester. Before joining the Army nearly a year ago he was employed by Messrs. Russell and Sons, iron founders.
On the 31st July 1916, Ernest’s widow Elsie May Perkins, of 2, Havelock Street, Leicester, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of twenty-two shillings and six pence for herself and her four children, commensurate on the 7th August 1916.
The Pension was made up of eighteen shillings and six pence for the widow and two children and a further four shillings was payable for the two children, Kate May and Ernest William who were inmates of the Cottage Homes in Leicester.
Elsie died at 2, Havelock Cottages, Havelock Street, Leicester on the 10th November 1916 and Ernest’s mother, Mrs. Emily Perkins of 28, Windermere Street, Leicester, was then recorded as the Guardian of the orphaned children.
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