Saturday 30th November 1918

Billets at Arzignano

2Lt. Fred Dyson (see 26^th October) wrote in reply to an enquiry from Mrs. Emma King regarding the fate of Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 15^th November). Mrs. King had been ‘landlady’ to both 2Lt. Dyson and Capt. Perks while they were stationed with 3DWR in North Shields.

“Dear Mrs King

Your letter of enquiry re the untimely end of poor Capt. Perks reached me a few days ago, and I shall be only too pleased to give you as full particulars as lies in my power with regard to the manner in which he met his fate. It was on Oct 27^th, the first day of the offensive, that he was killed instantaneously by a machine gun bullet through the head.  He was at the time gallantly leading his company in the front wave of the attack. The company, B Company, was opposed by heavy machine guns and suffered rather heavily. Out of the four officers of that company one was killed and another wounded in addition to Capt. Perks himself.  My own company, C Company, was much more fortunate.

I can assure you that the loss of Capt. Perks is keenly felt in the battalion, for he was one of its oldest officers and the bravest of fellows, and universal sympathy goes out to his bereaved parents. As you say it is hard that so near the end of hostilities he should be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice, but we must try to think of him as having given his all for freedom’s sake and that his death has not been in vain. I realised what a shock the sad news would be to you, and I should certainly have written to you in any case. 

For Capt. Perks I had a great admiration and respect for he was a real gentleman and the bravest of soldiers - always jolly - he was a favourite among the officers and men. You may rest assured that he was given decent burial though the exact location of his grave I cannot tell you.  On the north bank of the Piave his body lies at rest, and in his last moments he suffered no pain.

My experience has been a more fortunate one and I have much to be thankful for in having seen the end of hostilities and being able to look forward to the day which will bring us back home for good.  As a matter of fact I am proceeding on leave to-morrow, and look forward to drinking a cup of tea with you Mrs King and Granville once more in the near future.

I am in the very best of health and am pleased to say that Mrs Dyson and little Barbara are the same. That you are all similarly favoured is my sincere wish.

Kind regards and all good wishes to Mr King, yourself and Granville”.

(I am greatly indebted to Janet Hudson for her kind permission to allow me to quote from Bob Perks’ correspondence).

Pte. Sam Sunderland (see 28^th October), who had suffered a minor injury to the little finger of his left hand when pricking it on an acacia thorn, was transferred from 11^th General Hospital in Genoa to 57^th General Hospital in Marseilles.

Pte. Jack Edgar Hall (see 13^th November) was transferred from hospital in Marseilles to 16^th Convalescent Depot, also in Marseilles.

Pte. Thomas Caton (see 2^nd August), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was reported for “failing to comply with an order given by an NCO; ie failing to get out of bed when ordered to do so”; he would be confined to barracks for seven days.

Sgt. Arthur Manks (see 7^th September) on attachment from 3DWR to a Prisoner of War camp at Catterick, was transferred, again on attachment, to another camp at Barlby, near Ripon.

Pte. Willie Holmes (see 19^th November), serving at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, was posted to the Dispersal Centre at Ripon, in preparation for being discharged from the Army.

Pte. Cyril Hollingsworth (see 30^th July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally transferred to Army Reserve Class P. This classification of the reserve had been introduced in October 1916 and applied to men “whose services were deemed to be temporarily of more value to the country in civil life rather than in the Army”. He was to take up employment as a colliery fitter with Hargreaves Colliery Company, Handsworth, Sheffield. He was also awarded a pension of 8s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed in one year.

The Infantry Records Office in York wrote to Pte. Harry Gordon Binns MM (see 26^th November), who had been recently discharged from the Army, regarding the issue of his Military Medal; on his instruction the medal would be duly despatched to him at his home address a few days later.