Seven: Warrant Officer 1st Class F. G. Perkes, Royal Army Service Corps

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (17753 Pte. F. Perkes, A.S.C.); 1914 Star (S-17753 S.Q.M. Sjt. F. G. Perkes, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (S-17753 W.O. Cl. 1 F. G. Perkes, A.S.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (S/17753 S.S. Mjr. F. G. Perkes, R.A.S.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (OAS-17753 S.S. Mjr. F. G. Perkes, A.S.C.); French Medal of Honour, with swords, bronze, initials officially corrected on the fifth, generally very fine or better (7) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals.

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Frederick George Perkes was born in Worcester in 1879, where he enlisted in the Army Service Corps in January 1901, direct from the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.

Embarked for South Africa that May, he remained stationed there until returning home in May 1906, which period witnessed his participation in the Boer War and advancement to Lance-Corporal in October 1902 and to Corporal in November 1903. Service in Crete and Malta followed in 1908-13 and, having been promoted to Sergeant in June 1906 and to Staff Sergeant in October 1910, he was advanced to Warrant Officer 2nd Class on the outbreak of hostilities.

Thereafter, with the exception of a fortnight’s home leave, he served continuously in France and Belgium from August 1914 until October 1920, was advanced to Warrant Officer 1st Class in March 1915 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 24 December 1917 refers). In addition, he was awarded the M.S.M. ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the forces in France during the present war’ (London Gazette 17 June 1918 refers), and the French Medal of Honour (London Gazette 8 March 1920 refers); although the latter was gazetted as a silver issue, his Regular Army Certificate of Discharge states that he was in possession of a bronze issue - in addition to confirming all of his other Honours & Awards.

Discharged in January 1926, Perkes joined the R.A.S.C. (Territorials) as a Company Quarter-Master Sergeant, but was again discharged, at his own request, a few months later; sold with his original Soldiers’ Service and Pay Book, and his Regular Army Certificate of Discharge.