Search our records : John Alexander (‘Jack’) Perkins
| Surname: | Perkins |
| Forename(s): | John Alexander (‘Jack’) |
| Service Number: | 172663 |
| Force: | British Army |
| Unit: | 14th Signal Company Royal Engineers |
| Civilian Occupation: | Post Office clerk |
| Parents: | James Perkins |
| Home address: | Colebrooke House, Beer, Devon |
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Jack Perkins was born in Beer in 1897, the son of James Perkins, a builder and decorator, and brother of Walter (see elsewhere).
He took his oath of allegiance at Axminster on 26th November 1915, and joined the Royal Engineers on 13th June 1916, when he gave his home address as Colebrooke House, Beer, and his occupation as Post Office clerk. His next of kin was recorded as his father.
Jack was sent to France on 27th October 1916. He had to wait just over a year to get his first leave in the UK, as he was given a fortnight from 29th November 1917. His next home leave was to come another year later, in October 1918. He returned to his unit in France on 5th November that year, just before the Armistice.
He was discharged from the army at Crystal Palace in south London on 5th August 1919. On his discharge form the ‘Theatre of war or Command’ was given as ‘Rhine’, so he was obviously serving as part of the Army of Occupation in Germany when he was demobilised.
Jack also served in the Royal Air Force in the Second World War.
He died in 1954, aged 57.