PERRY, James Laurence

James Perry was born on the 6th April 1892 to James and Eliza Perry of Lye and at the age of 8 was admitted to Old Swinford Hospital. At 14 he was apprenticed to Messrs Eveson, the bucket maker of Lye. In 1913 he emigrated to Australia, probably to join his brother at 17 Liston Street, Parkside, South Australia. After war had broken out, he enlisted in September 1915 as a Bombardier in the Field Artillery. He joined the 8th Brigade and embarked for Egypt and in March 1916 they were transferred to the Western Front. After trench experience near Armentičres they went to the Somme and suffered their first serious casualties. Gunner James Perry was seriously wounded near Pozičres and was sent back to Australia on the 13th July 1916. He stayed in the Melbourne Base Hospital but died of septicaemia on the 9th June 1917. He was 25 years of age and is buried in Coburg Cemetery, Victoria, (CE E 109) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Old Swinford Hospital and Pine Ridge Park, Australia, Memorials