I have a small booklet entitled "Standing Orders for War & Peace for 4th Divisional Engineers". Dated 1939, it was clearly published between June 1939 as there are references to orders at that time and the Division's departure for France in September, it appears to have been compiled at the insistence of the C.R.E., Lieut. Col. AE. F.Q. Perkins. I was aware that Perkins had been replaced by the time the division went to France but have only recently looked further into his subsequent career. Sadly, he lies in the Communal Cemetery at Aalst, Belgium with date of death given as 10th May 1940. Casualty The only reference that I've found to him in my book collection is in Blaxland (p.72) "In another raid here (Aalst) this day Colonel Perkins AQMG of II Corps became the first British Officer to be killed in Belgium in this particular war." There is little about him on-line although there is a Belgian memorial website with grave photos and interestingly, the graves are in the Belgian style with photographs. Aalst Communal Cemetery He seems to have died alongside an RASC Corporal and RASC Driver. There is also an RHA gunner from the same date. Casualty Casualty Casualty Does anyone have the diary WO167/150 for II Corps Adjutant & Quartermaster ? I assume that the diary is likely to mention the loss of the Commanding Officer.
Aeneas Francis Quinton Perkins Birth: Jul 1892 - Southill, Bedfordshire, England Death: 11 May 1940 - Canterbury, Kent, England (Slightly out on date but more so on place ho hum) Marriage: Jul 1915 Spouse: Dorothy Clare Martin Tomson F: Arthur Ernest John Perkins M: Evelyn Minnie Louisa Foster Web: International, Find A Grave Index Name: Aeneas Francis Quinton Perkins Death Date: 10 May 1940 Burial Place: Aalst, East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen), Belgium UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Aenea Perkins Given Initials: A F Q MC Rank: Colonel Death Date: 11 May 1940 Number: 4814 Birth Place: Bedford Residence: Canterbury Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Engineers Branch at Enlistment: Other Corps Theatre of War: France and Belgium Campaign, 1939/40 Regiment at Death: Staff (Colonels & above), except: RAMC, RAOC, REME & RAPC I was hoping the family tree might have more details but sadly not TD
Casualty lists have the date of 11 May 1940. Newspaper obituaries report that Col Perkins "it is understood, was killed by a bomb".
Thanks for looking. There was an Aeneas Perkins killed in the Great War too, although he doesn't seem to have been close family. and the military line goes back further. I had expected to find more online. The CWGC date has been amended from 11th to 10th and certainly Gerald Blaxland (who was with an infantry battalion under 2 Corps) seems happy with the date.
Aeneas John Martin Perkins 1918–1996 BIRTH 29 OCT 1918 • Marylebone, London DEATH SEP 1996 • Shepway, Kent, England England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976 Name: Æneas John Martin Perkins Father's name: Æneas F Q Perkins Spouse's name: Ursula Henrietta Pendlebury Marriage Date: 29 Sep 1943 This seems to be your mans only child and I havent checked to see if they had children - the tree doesnt show any but thats not conclusive in any way TD
His birthplace, Southill, is not far from where I live. He does not appear on the village War memorial: Roll of Honour - Bedfordshire - Southill Parish Hall Memorial Nor does he appear on the Smarden War Memorial (his place of residence): Roll of Honour - Kent - Smarden
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 Name: A F Q Perkins Regiment or Corps: Royal Engineers, 103rd Infantry Brigade UK, British Army Lists, 1882-1962 Name: A. E. F. Q. Perkins Military Year: 1932 Regiment: Royal Engineers Rank: Maj Name: 2e2. F. Q. Perkins Military Year: 1939 Rank: Lieutenant Colonel There might be more on the Fold3 record but I dont have access TD
Obituary Thanet Advertiser Friday 17th May 1940 Marriage of the son, Major A. Perkins R.E. The Sketch 6th October 1943
AEneas Charles Perkins 1873–1915 BIRTH 25 MAR 1873 • Nynee Tal, Bengal, India DEATH 28 APR 1915 • No 2 Casualty Clearing Station, Expeditionary Force - Bailleul, France - died of wounds AEneas Charles Perkins Birth: 25 Mar 1873 - West Bengal, India Death: 28 Apr 1915 - Bailleul, Orne, Basse-Normandie, France Marriage: 1903 - Hanover, Jamaica Spouse: Mary Hepworth F: AEneas Perkins M: Janette Wilhelmina Cathrey England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976 Name: Æneas Charles Perkins Death Date: 28 Apr 1915 Death Place: Bailleul Casualty Major PERKINS, AENEAS CHARLES Died 28/04/1915 Aged 43 40th Pathans Son of the late Gen. Sir Aeneas Perkins, K.C.B., R.E., and Lady Perkins; husband of Mary Perkins, of 6, Glendowe Place, South Kensington, London. A military family by the looks of it TD Major Aeneas Charles Perkins
He was also a member of the MCC: Roll of Honour - Middlesex - Lord's Cricket Ground MCC Members World War 2