PERRY, Sidney

Sidney Perry was born in Birmingham and brought up in Oldswinford, Stourbridge. He attended Oldswinford C of E School and by the time of the Great War his parents, Arthur and Emily Perry, lived at 61 Park Road, Blackheath. He enlisted in the Gloucestershire Yeomanry and later transferred to the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars in Egypt after their disaster at Katia in April 1916. In 1917 General Allenby planned a breakthrough with a wide flanking attack on Beersheba to divide the Turkish army. The cavalry advanced quickly on the 31st October in the evening light to capture the town. In the next advance on the 8th November the Worcester Hussars caught the Turkish infantry near Huj and three squadrons were ordered to charge. It was the last cavalry charge in British history but there were 93 casualties and among those killed in action was Sidney Perry. He was 20 years of age and is buried in Gaza Cemetery (XIX D 1). He is commemorated on the Halesowen, Oldswinford C of E School and Oldswinford choir Memorials and on his parents' grave in Oldswinford cemetery.