John Perks (1888 - 1915)

John Perks (known as 'Jack') was born at Ackleton in 1888. He was baptised at Worfield Parish Church on 12th March. He was the son of Charles Perks, a gardener, and his wife, Amelia. Shorly after the birth of John the family moved to Badger.

When he left school John, following in his father's footsteps, also became a gardener. In 1911 he was working at Weston Park but by the time he joined up he had moved to Swynnerton, Staffordshire.

John served with the 1/5th North Staffordshire Regiment. He went to France with his battalion in March 1915. He went missing after the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13th October (during the Battle of Loos) and was presumed dead on the 15th. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

The attack at the Hohenzollern Redoubt (13 October 1915)
On 13 October the fresh 46th (North Midland) Division (TF) attacked after a cloud gas release. The division ... lost 3,643 casualties, mostly in the first ten minutes. The gas clouds had little effect due to high winds and bright sunlight and artillery support had been minimal, due to a lack of ammunition. ... The official history of the war suggested that "The fighting on the 13th–14th October had not improved the general situation in any way and had brought nothing but useless slaughter of infantry." [Wikipedia]

Private John Perks, 3280, North Staffs. Regt., was awarded the Victory and British Medals and the 1915 Star.

[The CWGC incorrectly gives his regimental number as 3285.]