Egbert Somers Perry
Stephen LearmonthEgbert was born in Tallangatta in about 1893 to Arthur James and Mary Perry. He went to school at Tallangatta SS (No 1365). His mother must have died at an early age as his father included the following details on his Roll of Honour Circular; “Only son, three sisters. Saw father through drought. Then one evening said “Mr Hughes is calling for more men. I must go.”
Egbert enlisted on the 24th of February 1916. His Regimental Number was 973 and he would eventually be promoted to the rank of Corporal in C Company of the 37th Battalion. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A34 Persic on the 3rd of June 1916, disembarking in Plymouth, England on the 25th of July of that year.
After the battalion underwent further training they proceeded overseas to France on the 22nd of November 1916. In early January he was admitted to the 10th Field Ambulance and then, two days later, was transferred to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer. He rejoined his unit on the 5th of February 1917.
Much has been written in previous stories about the role of the 37th Battalion in the Battle of Messines. The Official History of the 37th Battalion, written by Lieutenant Norman Gordon McNicol of D Company, 37th Battalion, provides us with a description of what C Company did on the first day of battle;
“C Company under Lieut. V. J. Stubbs, had rushed the enemy trench directly in front of them, as soon as our barrage lifted. About 80 prisoners were taken in this rush. They were ordered back into shell holes for their own safety, and while Lieut. Stubbs was supervising this he was wounded. The fight here was not yet over, it being proposed to push on for a further 200 yards to a point where a support line was supposed to exist. The advance had passed beyond the region churned up to a dust heap by the terrific fire of the past weeks. Shellholes were less frequent, and trees and hedges in comparatively normal condition could be observed. In fact some of these clumps were not indicated on the maps, and fierce resistance came from them.”
German snipers had been active the entire day. Captain Grieve of A Company, who had been awarded a Victoria Cross that morning for his actions, was wounded by one. Unfortunately, one also struck Egbert, killing him instantly.
Corporal Egbert Somers Perry has no known grave. He is remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, the Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient and the Towong Shire Boer War and WW1 Roll of Honour in Tallangatta. For his service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In January of 1923, nearly six years since Egbert’s death, the head teacher of Tallangatta State School No. 1365, Mr B T Pearce, write to the Officer in Charge of Base Records in Melbourne on behalf of Arthur Perry, Egbert, father.
“School 1365
Tallangatta
Dear Sir 15.1.23
Some time since I corresponded re 973 Egbert Somers Perry.
Fell at Messines 7-9th June 1917.
Mr A. J Perry, the father is anxious for a
- Photo of grave
- Acct for extra words chiselled (on Egbert’s memorial)
- Next of kin badge
- Identity disc (if saved)
I saw that Mr Perry received the other articles sent care of myself.
Very Faithfully Yours
B. T. Pearce
Head teacher”
The articles referred to in the letter were Egbert's personal effects, most likely left behind in care of someone before the battalion left for the front line. They included; “Photos, Waller, Religious Book, Souvenir Metal Ring, 2 Note-books, cards, belt, Metal Wrist Watch, Whistle and Lanyard, Unit Colours, One Franc.”
