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2nd.Lt. Albert Perkins
British Army 197th Coy. Machine Gun Corps
from:Loughborough
(d.4th October 1917)
Taken from Local Newspaper:-
"Loughborough Town Clerk's son killed".
"Much sympathy was felt in Loughborough with the Town Clerk (Mr. Harry Perkins), who on Tuesday evening received official notification of the death of his second son second Lieut. Albert Perkins, of the Machine Gun Corps, which took place on Oct.4th from wounds. Second Lieut. Perkins was 27 years of age, and married. He was articled to the late Mr. A. E. King, architect, and on his death joined Mr. Haynes in carrying on the business. He enlisted in September 1914, with a number of Loughborough young men. In the Public Schools Battalion, and went to France In November 1915, returning to England the following March to take his cadet's course for a commission. The deceased officer was then attached to the 149th Machine Gun Corps, with which he continued until he had to go into hospital for sickness from which he recovered in about a month, and was then transferred to the 197th M.G.C. and stationed near the Flanders coast."
A letter of Sympathy was received by Mrs. Albert Perkins from the Captain of the Machine Gun Company to which her late husband, Second Lieutenant Perkins, was attached. The writer expresses the deepest sympathy of his brother officers, and says-
"Although he only joined this company a week ago, we were all beginning to have a very warm regard for him, and I am sure that he had not been so unfortunately taken from us we should soon have learned to love him. His bright cheery disposition and companionable ways makes us feel his loss keenly. This being so with us, who only knew him for one short week, makes it very easy for us to have some little idea as to your feelings at the loss of one who must have been dearer to you than life itself". The writer goes to say he was with Second Lieutenant Perkins when he died. During a terrible bombardment a shell burst just outside their shelter and a splinter struck him on the right breast, and in five minutes he passed away, quite peacefully and painlessly. The letter adds: "He died a soldiers death- to my mind the most glorious death to die- but he was young and fair, cut off in his prime, which is always so sad. He showed all the qualities of a gallant soldier and a gentleman, which though, I hope will cheer you when you think of the departed dear one."
