Lance Corporal George William Perry { 898 } served with the 1st/1st Essex Yeomanry in the First World War, and died in France on 17th November 1916 aged 24. He was the only son of William and Fanny Perry of Rose Cottage, Duton Hill.
George was a good friend and comrade of Percy Appleton, whose grandson Richard writes:
Both men were born at Great Easton – George was born at Rose Cottage, Duton Hill and Percy was born at Andrews Farm, Mill End Green. They joined the Essex Yeomanry “C” (Dunmow) Squadron in 1914 and fought in the Great War.
 George William PERRY |  Percy Appleton |
Sadly, on 16th November 1916, when Percy awoke after a period of sleep he found George motionless. Having been in seemingly good health, George had died suddenly in his sleep, apparently from unknown natural causes. Because he did not die as a direct result of enemy action, George was not buried alongside his fallen comrades, but was laid to rest in a local churchyard at Aubin-Saint-Vaast, France.
 George Perry's grave - Aubin-Saint-Vaast 1916 |  Transcript of Inscription |  George Perry's grave |
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Percy, against the odds, survived the Great War and fought until its conclusion, at which time he was sent to Cologne to become part of a peace keeping force. He would frequently mention George’s untimely passing. Percy died in 1981.
George Perry’s name can be found on the Great Easton War Memorial, and on the brass plaque in Tilty Church.
The photos of George and his resting place, were in Percy’s personal collection.
Fun at the last Peace Camp at Thorndon Park, 1914.
Photograph of “C” Squadron, Essex Yeomanry – Percy Appleton is lying on the ground to the left of the horse, watching a demonstration of some kind, and George Perry is probably amongst the spectators. The photograph was taken in England before their departure for France, at a place described as “the last peace camp”.
The entry for George Perry in ‘UK Soldiers Died in the Great War” shows that he enlisted at Porter’s Hall, Stebbing. Percy Holt, the owner of Porter’s Hall at this time, was in the Essex Yeomanry from the start of the war, and it seems that the Hall was used as some sort of recruitment centre.
An unnamed soldier from “C” Squadron, who was Percy Appleton’s sadler.
There are other pages about George Perry on this website:
Last updated 20th November 2017
