Percy Vivian Claude Perry
He was a partner in the family firm of GH Perry and Sons, lace manufacturers, Boulevard Works, Nottingham.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Percy was born in 1884 and was the son of George Henry and Elizabeth Perry (née Gadd).
His father George was born in 1840 in Beeston and was the son of Alfred, a lace manufacturer, and his wife Elizabeth. In 1861 the family was living on Portland Street, Nottingham, and according to the census George employed three men and one boy. By 1871 he was employing ten men and in 1881, 22 men, five girls and four boys.
George and Elizabeth (b. 1842 Hyson Green) were married in March 1868 and had 10 children, two of whom died in infancy: George Henry b. 1866, Elizabeth Ada b. 1867, Edith Ellen b. 1870 (AMJ) d. 1870 (JAS), Florence Annie b. 1871, Arthur Ernest b. 1873, Mabel Gertrude birth registered 1875 JFM, Albert James b. 1878 (JAS) d. 1882 (AMJ), Hilda Cecilia b. 1882, Percy Vivian Claude b. 1883 and Constance Ethel b. 1885.
The family was living at 4 Southey Street, Forest Grove, in 1881 but had moved to 'McIvor House', 93 Forest Road West by 1891 and this was still the family home in 1911. Only the two youngest children, Percy, now a partner in the firm, and Constance, were in the home on the night of the census. Their unmarried sister, Florence Annie, was recorded on the census at 'Roseneath', Westbrook Avenue, Margate, with their brother Arthur and his wife and their sister Elizabeth Creassey and her husband.
Five of Percy's siblings had married by 1911: George Henry to Sarah Annie Perry in 1893, Arthur Ernest to Constance Smith in 1898 and Elizabeth Ada to Herbert Creassey in 1899. Mabel Gertrude married Horace Millington Dexter at All Saints church in July 1901, and Hilda Cecila married George Ernest Alton at All Saints in June 1905; both weddings were reported in the Nottinghamshire Weekly Express on 26 July 1901 and 16 June 1905.
Percy's mother, Elizabeth, died at 'Roseneath', Margate, on 1 July 1911; the funeral service was held in the 'top chapel' of the General Cemetery on 7 July (Nottinghamshire Weekly Express, 'Deaths' and report of funeral, 7 July 1911).
His father, George Henry, died in 1927 and was also buried in Nottingham General Cemetery (Nottingham Evening Post, 8 January 1927), His eldest son of the same name had predeceased him; died January 1918 at 'Glengariff', Southey Street. (Nottingham Evening Post, 3 January 1918).
Percy married Hilda Mary Baxter, the daughter of Geoffrey William and Mary Theresa Baxter, at St Barnabus Cathedral on 18 March 1916. Hilda Mary was born in 1886 and baptised at the Cathedral on 24 January. Although her family lived in Nottingham and at the time of her marriage on Huntingdon Drive, The Park, Hilda, a violinist, was recorded on the 1911 Census in Manchester in the home of Mary Ann Baxter, a dressmaker, presumably a relative.
Percy's widow Hilda Mary married George Ernest Alton (b. 1873), a cigar manufacturer, in 1924. George was a widower, his wife Hilda Cecilia (née Perry) having died in 1923 at Margate (home address 2 Burns Street), leaving him with three children, Edna Beatrice, Hilda Dorothy and Edmund. In 1939 the couple were living on Lenton Road, Nottingham, with his two children, Edna and Edmund. George Alton died in 1944 (Nottingham Evening Post, 18 and 24 November). His widow Hilda married Major James Walter Foley, late of the Royal Ulster Rifles, at St Barnabus Cathedral in September 1951; her husband died the same year (Nottingham Evening Post, 24 September 1951 and 5 September 1952).
Hilda Foley-Alton died in 1958 aged 72.
Nottingham Evening News, 9 June 1958: ‘Mrs Foley-Alton Dies. A member of the Nottingham cigar manufacturers. Mrs Hilda Mary Foley-Alton, died suddenly at her home in The Park, Nottingham, yesterday. She was well-known in Nottingham as a violinist under the name of Hilda Baxter, and for many years was president of the Nottingham Music Society. During the First World War she was the leader of an orchestra and went to France as a member of a concert party., She married Mr George Ernest Alton in 1925. She had remarried since his death in 1944. One of her stepdaughters, Miss Dorothy Alton, helped in the founding of a religious community for all races and creeds in Sussex before the war. Known as St Julian’s Community, its first branch was set up in Kenya last year by Miss Alton, who had already spent four years in India as a missionary. Miss Alton is at the moment on holiday and will be able to attend a requiem mass at Nottingham Cathedral on Wednesday for her [step] mother. There are two other stepchildren, Mr E George Alton and his sister Edna.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
He served in the ranks of the Sherwood Foresters with service number 42 and 2540. He was commissioned second lieutenant with 2/7th battalion on 16 March 1915.
Perry landed with the Battalion at Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire) on the morning of 26 April 1916 and was killed in action during the battle at Mount Street Bridge. He was one of 31 men of the Sherwood Foresters to be killed during the Irish Rebellion of 1916.
His death certificate shows: Percy Claud Perry, aged 32, married, of Forest Road, Nottingham, a Lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters, died at 33 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, on 26 April 1916. The cause of death was 'gunshot wounds to thigh and abdomen, haemorrhage, 8 hours, certified.' The informant of his death was S. Lemphris, 2 Clarendon Street, Nottingham, the person taking charge of the body. His death was registered on 8 May 1916.
Perry was buried in the family vault in Nottingham General Cemetery on 10 May following a miitary funeral.
Nottingham General Cemetery family grave and headstone: ‘In ever loving memory of Lieutenant Percy VC Perry 2/7th Sherwood Foresters, the dearly beloved husband of Hilda Mary Perry and youngest son of GH Perry killed in action at Dublin in the Irish Rebellion April 26th 1916. ‘Thy will be done.’’
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Marriages’, 18 March 1916: ‘Perry-Baxter. On the 18th March , at The Cathedral, Nottingham, by the Rev. Francis D Healy, cousin of the bride, assisted by Rev. L Moens, Lieut. Percy V Perry, son of GH Perry, McIvor House, Forest-road, to Hilda Mary. daughter of Geoffrey W. Baxter, Huntingdon-drive, The Park.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, Monday 1 May 1916: ‘Sherwood Foresters’ Heavy Losses. Four officers killed, fourteen wounded. The latest official list of casualties issued from Dublin includes the names of a number of officers belonging to the Sherwood Foresters who have laid down their lives or been wounded in action in Ireland during the past week. Most of them are members of well-known Nottingham families. Included amongst the killed are Captain FC Dietrichseen [photograph] and Lieutenant Percy LC Perry, both of whom have lived in the city for some years, and were held in the highest esteem by a large circle of friends. Lieutenant Perry, the son of Mr GH Perry, Forest-road, was a partner in the firm of GH Perry and Sons, lace manufacturers, Boulevard Works, Nottingham, and was 32 years of age. He volunteered for service upon the outbreak of war, and received a omission in March of last year. A very sad circumstance is the fact that he was only married barely six weeks ago in Nottingham to Miss Hilda Baxter, well known in local musical circles.' (Source: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post – Thursday 18 May 1916: ‘At the Nottingham City Council today letters were read from: Mr GH Perry, Mr GH Perry jun, and Mrs SV Brown [Browne] thanking the Council for the resolutions of sympathy passed with them upon the deaths in Ireland of Lieut. Percy Perry and Lieut. MB Brown [Montague Bernard Browne, SF]. Mrs Brown [Browne] remarked that she was proud to think the Notts. Regiments had done so well for their King and country.’ (Source: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Pte. Lawrence Cole, 2/7th Notts & Derby (The Robin Hoods), sent this account of his experiences in the Easter Rising to the local newspaper:
'The Robin Hoods have done glorious deeds in the rebellion over here in Ireland. I’m sorry to say we were in the thickest of the fight all the time. It was on Tuesday April 25th that we left Watford for Ireland, though at the time we did not know there was trouble of any kind in the Emerald Isle. We landed on Irish soil about four o’clock on Wednesday morning. After a short stay in ____ Harbour, we were moved on to Dublin, a distance of about six miles. On the way we heard what the trouble was about, and were prepared for lively happenings. Here I must say that the better classes of the population looked after us very well. They simply showered everything imaginable on us, nice things to eat, and plenty of fags, and tobacco to smoke.
'We had just reached the outskirts of Dublin when the trouble began. We were marching in fours, when shots were fired from all sides. Instantly we received orders from the officers to split up on both sides of the road, and then the firing began. The rebels had secured possession of a house at the corner of four crossroads and this is where we lost two of our brave officers: Lieutenant Percy Perry of Nottingham, and another while several others were wounded, and about a dozen men killed and wounded. It was here that my poor chum from Bulwell, Pte. P. Jeffs, was killed. I saw him fall but he was dead when I got to his side.
'We were powerless with our rifles and, therefore, steadied up until the bombs arrived. I had pity for the poor rebels when we did get at them for we blew the house and everyone in it to atoms with our bombs.
'About 200 yards further on, a much bigger battle was fought. The rebels had obtained possession over a canal bridge. It seemed as though they were firing all the rifles in the world, as shots were coming from every window, door and even cracks in the walls. It was terrible, we had to go over the canal bridge in sectional rushes, the first lot to go was an officer and 16 men. Alas only the officer and three men reached the other side. While we were waiting to go over the bridge another company of the Sherwood Foresters had worked themselves over a bridge further down the canal. They at once began to bomb the side of the house. It was terrible to see how our men were falling.
'Immediately we got over the bridge the bombers set to work in fine style and it was not long before the house and schools were in full flame. The heat from the flames was awful, and it was freely stated that about 69 of the rebels, who were inside, were burnt alive.
'It was about nine o’clock at night when the firing ceased, and we were put into billets for a well-earned rest. We had just got settled down when the sentry rushed in and told us the rebels were on the roof of the house in which we were billeted. We got up off the floor where we were trying to sleep – fully dressed, of course – and got through a trap-door on the roof. Everyone of us expected to be shot as we went through this trap-door as snipers were on the go in all directions. The houses seemed to have been built for the purpose of fighting as anyone could creep from one end of the street to the other on the roods without being seen.
'It was hard to find out where the rebels’ shots were coming from, as they used smokeless powder, and we couldn’t tell who were friends, and who were enemies. Even women were firing rifles at us, and dozens of women and children were hit by stray shots.
'We were searching the housetops for rebels until about two o’clock on Thursday morning, and then went back to our billets. We stayed there until the South Staffords came at four o’clock to relieve us. We then went to the rear and had a rest after a good hard day’s fighting. In our battalion there were about 220 casualties, though several of the missing have since turned up.
'I saw in some of the English newspapers that we used machine guns on the first day, but that is not true as we had none. The Robin Hoods were the first in action, and it was the hand grenade that won the day as we couldn’t touch the rebels in their houses with our rifle fire. We had to blow them out.'
For an excellent account of Sherwood Forester involvement in the Easter Rising see 'Blood on the Streets', Paul O'Brien (Mercier Press, 2008)
Nottingham Evening Post, 10 May 1916:
'HONOURING THE BRAVE. LIEUT. P. L. C. PERRY. MILITARY FUNERAL IN NOTTINGHAM. With full military honours, the funeral of Lieut. Percy L. C. Perry, of the Sherwood Foresters, who died in action in Ireland on April 26th, took place at the Nottingham General Cemetery to-day [10th May 1916]. The deceased officer was the youngest son of Mr. G. H. Perry, Forest-road, and was held in the highest esteem in the city, being closely identified with the lace trade for many years.
'A brief service was held at the house of Mr. G. H. Perry, the Rev. J. Somerfield (army chaplain), officiating. The coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, and bore the deceased's sword and cap, was conveyed to the cemetery on a gun carriage drawn by horses ridden by members of the Army Corps. The firing party consisted of a detachment of the Lincolnshire Regiment, and the bearers were drawn from the Robin Hoods.
'The principal mourners were Mr. G. H. Perry (father), Mr. G. H. Perry, jun., and Mr. A. E. Perry (brothers), Mr. G. W. Baxter (father-in-law), Lieut, E. O. Perry and Mr. B. Creassey (nephews), Mr. G. E. Alton, Mr. H. M. Dexter, and Dr. O. Robinson (brothers-in-law), Mr. F. J. Perry, Mr. F. W. Perry, and Lieut. J. L. Miller (cousins), Lieut. George Fish, Mr. Aaron Mellor, Rev. J. Somerfield, Dr. James Millar, Mr. A. Lee, Sgt. Simpkins (a member of the deceased officer's company), and the Rev. G. West.
'A large number of people assembled at the cemetery to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, these including the Mayor (Coun. J. G. Small), the Sheriff (Coun. J. Clarkson), Ald. J. H. Gregg, Ald. F. R. Radford, Mr. J. H. Richards (representing the Town Clerk), Mr. T. Fish, Mr. E. Hickling, Mr. H. D. Bright, Mr. W. R. Baggaley, Mr. W. Swanwick, Mr. A. C. Radford, Mr. R. I. Dexter, W. F. Raynor, Mr. D. Walker, and Mr E. R. Newton. “The military representatives present included Col. J. R. Starkey, M.P., Major Baines, Capt. J. A. H. Green, Capt. Wrightson. Capt. F. G. Hickling (who was in action with Lieut. Perry in Ireland, and was wounded), Lieut. Simms, Lieuts. Allen, C. D. Coulby. Cartwright, Smith, and Campbell.
'There were a large number of beautiful floral tributes and many messages of sympathy were received, including the following telegram from the King and Queen: 'Buckingham Palace, O.H.M.S. The King and Queen have heard with deep regret that your son has lost his life in the recent disturbances in Ireland, and desire me to express their sincere sympathy with you in your sorrow. Keeper of the Privy Purse.'
'ARMY CHAPLAIN'S TRIBUTE. After reading the committal sentences, the Rev. J. Somerfield delivered a short address, observing that Nottingham mourned that day one of her bravest citizens, one who gave all he had to give for honour, for freedom, for King and country. Lieut. Perry was one of the first to respond to his country's call, and gave a lead to the men of Nottingham, many of whom had left home and comforts for all the horrors of warfare, and some of whom had laid down their lives for their country. They honoured the brave, while realising the grave responsibility that rested upon them. The call came stronger than ever to all men and women to make the great sacrifice for the things that were more precious than life itself.
'Their friend and comrade was a brave soldier and a loyal citizen. He was a well equipped officer for his work, loved those under him. One the last acts of his life was to help a comrade to bear his heavy burden when going into action. He was not only a brave soldier, but a devoted and loyal son, a loving husband, a loyal friend, and a true comrade of those who now mourned him. Their hearts went out to those who felt that great loss the keenest; yet his name would be emblazoned amongst these who would be honoured for all time. Their hearts were full with sorrow, but there came to them a sense of thankfulness that there were such men prepared to make the great sacrifice.
'Let them consecrate themselves anew to the holy cause, and be willing to follow in the steps of those who laid down their lives for truth and for righteousness. Might it please God to hasten the time when the cause of righteousness should win, and the powers of evil be overthrown, and when nations would dwell together in safety and goodwill.“Three volleys, having been fired, the buglers sounded the "Last Post" at the conclusion of a most impressive ceremony.'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Probate: 21st June 1916 at Nottingham. Percy Vivian Claude Perry of McIvor House, 93 Forest Road, Nottingham, Lieutenant in H.M. Army died 26th April 1916 at Dublin on active service. Administration was awarded to his sister and brother, Annie Perry spinster and Arthur Ernest Perry lace manufacturer. Effects £2653 0 shillings and 2 pence.
Updated and additional research RF (October 2025)
Percy Vivian Claude Perry
Perry family grave and headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Peter Gillings.
Percy Vivian Claude Perry
Perry family grave and headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Peter Gillings.
Percy Vivian Claude Perry
Courtesy of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment Roll of Honour website