Frederick Lewis Perrett was born on 1 April 1889 at 54 Regency Street, Westminster, London, the fifth of the eight children of Lewis John Perrett (1854-1925) and Eliza Matilda Perrett née Jones (1856-1948). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in the St George Hanover Square registration district, London.
The 1891 census shows him as aged 2 years, still living at 54 Regency Street, Westminster, with his parents and four siblings: Beatrice Matilda Perrett (1880-1935); Mabel Constance Perrett (1882-1956); Evelyn Mary Perrett (1884-1933) and Elsie Teresa Perrett (1886-1974). His father was listed as an undertaker.
On 19 May 1897 both he and his brother, Harold William Perrett (1893-1954), were baptised at St John the Evangelist Church, Smith Square, Westminster, where in the baptismal registers their family was shown to be residing at 47 Crawford Street, Westminster and that their father was still recorded as an undertaker.
He was still shown as living at 47 Crawford Street in the 1901 census with his parents and seven siblings: Beatrice Matilda Perrett - a dressmaker; Mabel Constance Perrett - a waitress; Evelyn Mary Perrett; Elsie Teresa Perrett; Harold William Perrett (1893-1954); Arthur Edmund Perrett (1896-1986) and Herbert Baldwin Perrett (1899-1917). His father was described as an undertaker's foreman.
When his father completed his 1911 census return form it showed the family were living in a 9 roomed property at 21 Fulham Place, Paddington, London. He was described by his father as a mercantile clerk, whilst his father showed himself as a pianoforte maker. The occupations of his siblings were listed as: Beatrice - dressmaker; Mabel - refreshment's assistant; Evelyn - dressmaker; Elsie - store's cashier; Harold - office boy; whilst Arthur and Herbert where shown as scholars.
In early 1917 he enlisted as a Private in the 3rd/17th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles), service number 8751. Later that year his service number was changed to 574373 and he entered France on 12 October 1917. On 27 October 1917 he was transferred to the 2nd/4th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), service number 295533. He was killed in action, aged 29 years, on 27 August 1918. His body was buried in Plot 2, Row F, Grave 5, in the Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, D938, 80300 Bray-sur-Somme, France.
On 5 May 1919 his army effects totalling £9-10s-8d were sent to his mother who was also sent his £7-0s-0d war gratuity on 5 December 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as PERRETT. F.L. 17TH. LON. REG. on the Quebec Chapel war memorial at the Church of The Annunciation, Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7AH. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
