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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.
A/Cpl. Alfred George Perryman . British Army Royal Army Medical Corps from Horsham, Sussex
Alfred Perryman joined up on the 30th October 1906 aged 18 and was sent to India. In 1911 he was shown on the census as being in Egypt. However he was in India in August 1914, and sailed to Britain, landing at Devonport on 18th of November 1914. They suffered badly as they still had there tropical uniforms. They were then moved to Magdalen Hill near Winchester and sent to France on 20th of December 1914. The 4th Battalion was sent to Salonika in November 1915 but Alfred appears to have stayed in France according to his record card. My father, his son, has said he was gassed in 1917 and was awarded the Silver War Badge No.246749, but as records missing we cannot find anything else so far. He was awarded 'pip,squeak and wilfred' medals. He also joined the RAMC in WW2.
My dad, F. Perrée, and was a technical sergeant in the Dutch army, because he sabotaged a factory then he was send 31-5-43 to Stalag 4B, Stalag X1 A Altengrabow and after that to Czechie Stalag 39 Brux Most. In 44 he flied to Czech farmers and after the war he returned to Netherlands. But told nothing about that period, who can tell me more information and history?
T/Sgt. John D. Pershing . United States Army 415 Regiment
John Pershing was my father-in-law who just died in January 2013. I have been researching all I can find out about his army life and the Timberwolves. He never talked a lot about his experiences but he sure was proud to be a Timberwolf.
AB William Pert . Royal Navy SS Empire Scott from Ferryden Angus Scotland
(d.28th May 1943)
William Pert served in the Royal Navy aboard HMS President III and the SS Empire Scott in WW2. He died 28th of May 1944 aged 26 years and is buried Archangel Allied Cemetery in Russia. Son of George and Mary Helen Pert, of Montrose, Angus.
Able Sea. William Pert . Royal Navy SS Empire Scott from Montrose, Angus, Scotland
(d.28th May 1943)
William Pert served on the SS Empire Scott. The SS Empire Scott was part of Convoy JW53 which sailed on 15th of February 1943 from Loch Ewe, Scotland to Murmansk, Russia along with 28 other supply vessels and a number of naval escorts. The ship arrived safely in Murmansk but was then blockaded in Russian waters for most of the rest of the year along with other Allied supply ships. It was finally able to depart from Archangel on 26th of November 1943.
C Pesci 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.
LAC. Alan Albert Peskett . Royal Air Force 460 Sqd.
I have a picture which appears to be 460 with my father Alan Albert Peskett present at RAF Cardington 29/08/1941. It appears to be an Australian squadron and I am unable to find reference to my father who was from South London. Can you help ?
Editor's note: Although 460 Squadron was an Australian Squadron, it like all squadrons was made up of men from across the commonwealth.
Cfn. Fedrick George Pester . British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from Exeter
Fedrick Pester was called up in May 1942 into the RAOC and transferred into the REME on its formation. He attended a Armored Fighting Vehicle recovery course in Dorset as part of training before going to India as part of the British 2nd Division. In Burma he served with the 5th Infantry Brigade as part of the first echelon of REME recovering and repairing vehicles from the front line.
JW Pester . British Army 44th Regiment Reconnaissance Corps
JW Pester served with the 44th Regiment 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.
JW Petch 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.
TB Petcher . British Army 2nd Btn Royal Tank Regiment
TB Petcher served with the 2nd Btn Royal Tank Regiment 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.
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