Herbert Baldwin Perrett was the youngest of the eight children of Lewis John Perrett (1854-1925) and Eliza Matilda Perrett née Jones (1856-1948). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1898 in the Marylebone registration district, London.
In the 1901 census he is shown as aged 2 years, living at 47 Crawford Street, Marylebone, with his parents and seven siblings: Beatrice Matilda Perrett (1880-1935) - a dressmaker; Mabel Constance Perrett (1882-1956) - a waitress; Evelyn Mary Perrett (1884-1933); Elsie Teresa Perrett (1886-1974); Frederick Lewis Perrett (1889-1918); Harold William Perrett (1893-1954) and Arthur Edmund Perrett (1896-1986). 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 scholar, 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; Frederick - mercantile clerk; Harold - office boy and Arthur - scholar.
He initially enlisted in the 25th (Reserve) Garrison Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, service number 208983, but was transferred to the 19th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (St Pancras), service number 614224 and entered France on 9 August 1917. He died of wounds, aged 19 years, on 4 December 1917 at No.3 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, France and was buried in Block P, Plot 6, Row C, Grave 9b in St Sever Cemetery Extension, 13 Bd Stanislas Girardin, 76140 Le Petit-Quevilly, France.
On 3 December 1918 his army effects totalling £9-6s-0d were sent to his father who was also sent his £3-0s-0d war gratuity on 3 December 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as PERRETT. H.B. 19TH. LON. REG. on the Quebec Chapel war memorial at the Church of The Annunciation, Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7AH and as PTE.PERRETT.H.B. on the war memorial to those fell in the 19th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (St Pancras) in St Pancras Parish Church, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BA. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on The London WW1 Memorial website and on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
