Pte Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
Walter Perry was born in January 1875, the son of James Perry, a 'general dealer' and Jane Vickery, a 'general labourer' of 33 Silver Street Bridgwater. He was the youngest of seven children, with two brothers and four sisters. In 1891 the family had moved to 164 Halswell Lane, Walter was working as a general labourer and was married to a woman called Minnie, who was a factory worker.
In 1901 he had set up home in Number 9 Court, West Street, working as a brewer's labourer, although his spouse then was called Rebecca, who worked in the shirt and collar factory in the town. They had a one year old daughter, Hilda. By 1911 Walter's wife was now a Jane of Westonzoyland. They lived with eleven year old Hilda, four year old Beatrice and two year old Joseph (presumably Jane's) and twelve year old Edna (possibly Minnie's daughter).
On the 9 December 1914 Walter was one of six employees of the Northgate Brewery of Starkey Knight and Ford who enlisted together in the Somerset Light Infantry including Tom Jennings, Daniel Godfrey, Isaac Thomas, Harry Baker and Walter Thomas. The following year the Bridgwater Mercury ran a report a Bridgwater rugby team of the 1/5th Somerset Light Infantry serving in Dagshai, India on 20 October 1915. On the 13 February 1916 the Mercury ran an article on all the relatives of Mr and Mrs W Perry of Goodregraig, Swansea Valley, who had formerly lived on West Street Bridgwater. At that time on active service was brother, Pte Walter Perry, Somerset Light Infantry; 4 sons: Pte Fred Perry, 1st Sportsmen's Batt, Gunner Stanley Perry, RFA, F A, Pte James Perry, Pembrokeshire Yeomanry (since discharged as medically unfit) Pte William John Perry, Somerset LI ; 3 sons in law: Pte E Partridge, Brecknock Batt, Driver H Gardner ASC, Driver W Carpenter RFA (since discharged as medically unfit). 6 nephews on active service with colours. Mr W J Perry senior volunteered but was rejected on age grounds. Again on the 22 March 1916 the paper had a picture of the Bugle Band of the 1/5th Somerset Light Infantry including W. Perry, serving in India.
He died in Britain 6 June 1917, aged 42. By which time he had transferred to the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry. On 13 June 1917 the Bridgwater Mercury reported the death of Private W Perry who had died in hospital in Colchester after an operation for appendicitis
