Sgt. Ernest William Perrins . British Army from Darlaston
My father Ernie Perrins served in the middle east. I have found some interesting details of his duties and many photos. He built a church in Jerusalem, while on duty.
Capt. George Albert Perris . Royal Army Service Corps from Jaywick, Essex
(d.7th Dec 1941)
Captain George Perris was the Son of George James Perris and Prudence Perris; husband of Lilian Perris, of Jaywick, Essex.
He was 34 when he died and is buried in the Klaksvik Cemetery in the Faroe Islands, Grave 786.
The SS Sauternes sank in a storm in the firth Fugloyarfjorour within the Faroe Islands, all 25 passengers and crew were lost. Among the casualties was Captain George Albert Perris of the Royal Army Service Corps.
RC Perris served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
Sgt. George Oscar Perrot MID. RNZAF 99 Squadron RAF from Masterton
The following is paraphrased from a letter written by Flying Officer George Oscar Perrot, addressed to Officer Commanding, No.2 (B.R.) Squadron, dated 9th August 1944.
"I left New Zealand on the 27th July 1939 in charge of a draft of wireless operators, to proceed to the United kingdom in order to fly Wellington aircraft to New Zealand. (At that time I was a Wireless Operator Mechanic.)
On arrival in England I was posted to No.99 (Bomber) Squadron, and served in this unit from 1st. September 1939 until August 1941.
I was not at any time on the Headquarters strength of any station, but served as NCO in charge of all squadron aircraft radio equipment under adverse conditions due to enemy action, and later as NCO in charge of WO/AG's in the equivalent position of the Signals Leader of today.
No.99 Squadron was engaged on operations throughout this whole period, and a detached flight operated from a base in France during the first six months of 1940.
Although I originally left New Zealand as a potential aircrew wireless operator, I was only engaged on Non-Operational flying during my tour of duty with the Squadron."
AG Perry served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
P.O. Alfred J Perry . Royal Navy HMS Nigeria (d.12th Aug 1942)
My Grandfather, Petty Officer Alfred J Perry, served on the HMS Nigeria during 'Operation Pedestal'. He was killed on the 12th August 1942 after the Nigeria had been torpedoed by the Axum. My Mum was 2 years old and never met her Father, she only had a couple of photographs.
This site has been a trove of information, I look forward to reading more stories as they are added.
Arthur R. Perry . British Army Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
My Dad, Arthur R Perry served at K camp_ 2 baseworkshops. REME M.S.F.
Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, which was part of 8th Army Tobruk. He sailed from England on the SS Volendam. He was a dispatch rider and looked after a dog named Topper that had belonged to someone who must have passed away. Dad survived the war and passed away in 1991.
Sgt. Colin Gordon Perry . Royal Air Force B flight 150 Squadron from Harrow, Middx
My Father, Colin Perry, served in the Air Force during WW2 joining up in 1939 at the age of 19 years. I know he qualified as an air gunner and wireless operator and flew many ops in North Africa and Sicily. He mainly flew in Wellingtons but his log book does show he also flew in Dakotas and Mosquitos.
As like most people I never asked him much about his war time experiences and he did not talk about it. He had a picture painted of his plane with the markings of JNV if this means anything to anyone. I have tried to trace some of the names mentioned as his crew:
Pilot F/Sgt S J Holmes,
Navigator Sgt JU Trewick, Bomb Aimer,
F.Sgt L Stanford,
Rear Gunner Sgt R J Sillwood
. I have a feeling some of this crew could be Canadian. The main dates of ops appear to be from late 1942 until December 1943. If anyone has any information about my Dad, or any of his crew, I would love to hear from them.
EC Perry served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
Frederick Perry . Royal Marines HMS Nelson from Wednesfield, Wolverhampton
Believe Frederick Perry joined the Royal Marines in 1942 and served on the HMS Nelson before going into 42 Commando unit. He then was involved in the Africa and Italy campaigns. Does anyone have any information please?
FWJ Perry served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
GA Perry served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
P/O. James Garland "Tubsy" Perry . Royal Air Force 73 Squadron (d.29th March 1940)
As the only child of my Father I have taken it upon myself to find out about my Father's Uncle. His name was James Garland Perry and he died at the age of 22. The reason I am doing this is due to my Father finding out about having a relative that fought in the war.
James Perry was very, very good friends with the first Ace of WW2 "Cobber" Kain, I have a few pictures of them together and also with "Cobber" walking along Sidmouth seafront with my Grandmother. The only information that we possess is a death certificate printed off the internet and also a book mainly about Cobber Kain but does have some mention of my Father's Uncle.
I know that James was shot down in battle and died 5 months previous to "Cobber" being killed in an accident. I am trying to find out this information as I am taking my Father to Chambieres National Cemetery in Metz France to see the grave of the Uncle he never knew. My father was named Garland after his Uncle, and I am called James, an ode to my Father's Uncle also.
Having found a picture of him on the internet yesterday I really would love to find out more about this gentleman and his friends and colleagues from 73 Squadron so I can compile enough information to find out what kind of person he really was. From all accounts in the book I am reading he was handsome, charming, witty and very intelligent. I just wish I could have met the heroes from days gone by.
Sgt. John Ralph Marwood Perry . Royal Air Force 431 Squadron from East Boldon
In 1944 I was stationed at Croft assigned to 431 Squadron. We came from the Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliff. I was an RAF engineer placed with the Canadian crew led by Flying Officer George Edward Kircher.
Our crew consisted of:
Pilot Flying Officer George Edward Kircher, 26 years old
Navigator Flight Lieutenant Burch, 28 years old
Bomb Aimer Flight Sergeant Kenneth West, 26 years old
Wireless Operator Warrant Officer Jack Dempsey, 30 years old
Mid Upper Gunner Sergeant Wilfred Sheane, 23 years old
Tail Gunner Sergeant Thomas Murison, 26 years old
Flight Engineer (Crew Chief) Sergeant John Ralph Marwood Perry, 21 years old
Memorable Operations.
On a daylight raid to Norway to a submarine pen, we left Croft in a Halifax about noon and headed north over Scotland. Near the north of Scotland we crossed the path of a Fokker Wolf 200, 4-engine German bomber. I waved to the tail gunner who ignored me. We led the attack into the Fiord and bombed a flack ship in the harbour with a direct hit down the funnel. The tail gunner confirmed this and our pilot was awarded the Air Force Cross. During the attack we had a direct hit to the fuselage of our Halifax. We flew back at wave top level to conserve fuel. The return height was miscalculated and 17 planes were lost over Scotland as they crashed into the mountains. George Kircher was an experienced bush pilot and saved us with some clever manoeuvers when he saw the mountains.
We left Croft in a Lancaster for Chemnitz, Germany on a night bombing raid. Our track took us over Berlin at about 26,000 feet and we experienced severe icing on the aircraft. There were fighters even at that height so I manned the front gun turret. We released our bombs over the city and headed home. Over the English Channel we crossed the path of a squadron of Flying Fortresses headed for France. We dived to avoid them and I heard a noise from the bomb bay. I discovered a bomb that had been frozen in place and released itself once the ice had melted. I quickly opened the bomb bay and dropped it into the English Channel. We landed at Croft after the longest trip we ever made in a Lancaster of more than 9 hours.
We journeyed to the Kiel Canal on a daylight raid to bomb submarines and submarine factories in the city of Kiel. When we took off the undercarriage and wheels would not retract until we manipulated the manual lever. The fuel situation became dire on our return and we were forced to land at Scarborough on the coast. We had 4 red fuel lights signifying the total lack of fuel on board and landed with no time to spare.
I would like to thank the farmer and his wife who lived on the farm at the airfield who kindly gave George Kircher and myself breakfast one morning.
Sgt. John Ralph Marwood Perry . Royal Air Force 431 Squadron from East Boldon
My name is Jack Perry, I am 88 years old and living in Australia. In 1944 I was stationed at Croft assigned to 431 Squadron. We came from the Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliffe. I was an RAAF engineer placed with the Canadian crew led by Flying Officer George Edward Kircher.
Our crew consisted of:
Pilot Flying Officer George Edward Kircher, 26 years old
Navigator Flight Lieutenant Burch, 28 years old
Bomb Aimer Flight Sergeant Kenneth West, 26 years old
Wireless Operator Warrant Officer Jack Dempsey, 30 years old
Mid Upper Gunner Sergeant Wilfred Sheane, 23 years old
Tail Gunner Sergeant Thomas Murison, 26 years old
Flight Engineer (Crew Chief) Sergeant John Ralph Marwood Perry, 21 years old
Memorable Operations.
On a daylight raid to Norway to a submarine pen, we left Croft in a Halifax about noon and headed north over Scotland. Near the north of Scotland we crossed the path of a Fokker Wolf 200, 4-engine German bomber. I waved to the tail gunner who ignored me. We led the attack into the Fiord and bombed a flack ship in the harbour with a direct hit down the funnel. The tail gunner confirmed this and our pilot was awarded the Air Force Cross. During the attack we had a direct hit to the fuselage of our Halifax. We flew back at wave top level to conserve fuel. The return height was miscalculated and 17 planes were lost over Scotland as they crashed into the mountains. George Kircher was an experienced bush pilot and saved us with some clever manoeuvers when he saw the mountains.
We left Croft in a Lancaster for Chemnitz, Germany on a night bombing raid. Our track took us over Berlin at about 26,000 feet and we experienced severe icing on the aircraft. There were fighters even at that height so I manned the front gun turret. We released our bombs over the city and headed home. Over the English Channel we crossed the path of a squadron of Flying Fortresses headed for France. We dived to avoid them and I heard a noise from the bomb bay. I discovered a bomb that had been frozen in place and released itself once the ice had melted. I quickly opened the bomb bay and dropped it into the English Channel. We landed at Croft after the longest trip we ever made in a Lancaster of more than 9 hours.
We journeyed to the Kiel Canal on a daylight raid to bomb submarines and submarine factories in the city of Kiel. When we took off the undercarriage and wheels would not retract until we manipulated the manual lever. The fuel situation became dire on our return and we were forced to land at Scarborough on the coast. We had 4 red fuel lights signifying the total lack of fuel on board and landed with no time to spare.
This is a letter that George Kircher sent to my mother.
Dear Mrs Perry,
Possibly you’re wondering who I am and why I am writing. I am George, Skipper or whoever Jack calls his pilot. I am one of the seven men in his crew. We did all our trips or operations together. We are all well and here to talk about it for several important reasons. First we were a very good crew for we got along well together. We had faith and confidence in each other. Jack was one of the fellows who made it a good crew. It must have been difficult as he was the only member that was not Canadian. There is really no difference but to him we must seem a strange lot with ways of our own to say and do things.
Regardless our crew cooperated and worked together perfectly and that is one of the reasons our tour was successful. Sgt Jack Perry was the youngest member in our crew and he was our Engineer. He had a very important job which he knew how to do and knew that job very well.
Through skies of flack and Jerry fighters he remained calm and collected, doing his job or his duties as they should be. A mistake could have meant the end for us all but they were not made.
Jack has proved himself a man with the right to live and enjoy the future. You can be very proud of your son for he has done a great job.
I had hoped to get up to meet you some time and may before I leave. Having been so close to home was nice for Jack in ways but if you were told of all he was doing and going through it must of been hard for you. He was one of seven men who were all for one and one for all each minute of each day or each operation in our mind as possibly our last.
I could go on for hours or pages but I am not a speaker or a writer. From these few lines I hope some of our feelings are conveyed to you. Some time when Jack is home I would appreciate it if you give him this. He will understand it but more importantly I want him to know his crew think he is tops and want to thank him and show they will never forget him and that they appreciated him in that crew.
W/O. Keith Oliver Perry . Royal Canadian Air Force 405 Squadron from Vancouver BC Canada
(d.23rd Aug 1943)
Keith Oliver Perry was my Mom's cousin. I do not know much about him other than he was with the RCAF 405 Squadron in England during World War II. He was shot down and captured sometime around March-April 1943. On 27th of Apr-1943 his status was changed from missing to Prisoner of War in the Lethbridge Hearald. He died in Stalag Luft VI in Heydekrug, East Prussia (now Macikai, Klaipedos Apskritis, Lithuania). He is buried in the cemetery just northeasterly of the camp. In 2007, a stone to honor him was placed in the cemetery.
RG Perry served with the Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
W Perry served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
W Perry served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
Sgt. William James Perry . Royal Air Force 83 Squadron from Wolverhampton
My late Father, William Perry was operational with 83 Sqn PFF from September 1944 after being posted from 49 Squadron at Fiskerton. I do not have a lot of detail but I do have my Father's flying logs which show all operations (including those with 49 Sqn) flown under F/O Roderick Neville Periera.
My Father survived the war and remained in the Royal Air Force until 1st October 1968. All but the final two years as Aircrew. He passed away in June 2008 aged 89.
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