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Auction: 15002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 291

Family Group:
Seven: Captain F.M. Perrett, "L" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, a Survivor of the Legendary Stand at Nery, 1914
1914 Star, with Bar (56832 A.Bmbr: F.M. Perrett. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals 56832 A. Bmbr. F.M. Perrett. R.A.); Defence and War Medals; Army Long Service & G.C., G.V.R., 1st 'Field Marshal's bust' type (1034604 B.Q.M. Sjt. F.M. Perrett. R.A.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R. (1034604 W.O. Cl.2. F.M. Perrett. R.A.), generally very fine or better, together with the recipient's miniature awards, the L.S. & G.C. a G.VI.R. 'Regular Army' type; two sporting medals; and a large quantity of original documents including:
- The recipient's Soldier's Service and Pay Book
- Regular Army Certificate of Service
- Certificate of Transfer
- Officer's Release Book
- Travel Identity Card
- The recipient's Passport
- Various Certificates of Education or Gunnery Courses
- Several Royal Artillery Association membership booklets &c.

Five: Chief Petty Officer W.H. Perrett, Royal Navy
1914-15 Star (207763 W.H. Perrett, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (207768 W.H. Perrett. P.O. R.N.); Naval Long Service & G.C., G.V.R., 1st 'Admiral's bust' type (207763 W.H. Perrett. P.O. H.M.S. Iron Duke.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st 'Admiral's bust' type (207763. W.H. Perrett, P.O. 1.Cl. "Iron Duke" Services During War), contact marks, nearly very fine (12)

Captain Frank Manning Perrett, born Wooton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, May 1890; enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery, 30.8.1909; served during the Great War with "L" Battery, R.H.A. on the Western Front from 15.8.1914.

The Action at Nery
Two weeks later, on the night of 31.8.1914, "L" Battery set up camp outside the village of Nery, twelve miles south-west of Compiegne. A Squadron of the Queen´s Bays was camped in the same field. The following morning, while the men were breakfasting, the camp was startled by the sound of guns very nearby. Soon the shells began to land amongst the teams harnessed up ready to march, and within two minutes there was not a single horse alive, and many men had been killed or wounded. The Battery tried to bring four of their guns into action against the Germans, who had eight guns just 500 yards away. Only one gun was successfully brought to bear on the enemy, under the command of Captain E.K. Bradbury. As they could not get an ammunition wagon alongside the gun, each round had to be carried up separately. Manning the gun until all the ammunition in both wagons had been used up, the Battery succeeded in knocking out four of the enemy´s eight guns. At this point "I" Battery arrived, and with the help of a machine gun of the Bays succeeded in silencing the remaining enemy guns, all of which were subsequently captured. "L" Battery lost 23 killed and 31 wounded; three Victoria Crosses were awarded to members of the Battery for this gallant action.

Perrett suffered 'gunshot wounds to left eye and arm', and returned to England, 19.10.1914; advanced Battery Quarter Master Sergeant, 7.10.1919; awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, 30.8.1927; discharged, 3.1.1931, after 21 years and 127 days' service; and subsequently served in the Territorial Army; Commissioned Lieutenant, General List- Infantry, 9.4.1942; retired with the rank of Captain, 22.8.1945; awarded Meritorious Service Medal, 18.10.1953.

M.S.M. London Gazette 17.7.1919 P.O., 1st Cl., William Henry Perrett, O.N. 207763 (Po.).

207763 Chief Petty Officer William Henry Perrett, M.S.M., the brother of Captain Frank Manning Perrett, born Newhaven, Sussex, July 1884; enlisted in the Royal Navy, 26.1.1900; promoted Able Seaman, 28.9.1903; Leading Seaman, 22.8.1912; transferred for service in H.M.S. Iron Duke, 10.3.1914; promoted Petty Officer, 1.8.1914; awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, 1.8.1917; Meritorious Service Medal for War Service, 17.7.1919; promoted Chief Petty Officer, 1.3.1920; retired, 7.7.1924.

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