George Hugh Perry
Second Lieutenant George Hugh Perry – Royal Field Artillery, 9th Battery
Early Life
George Hugh Perry was born in 1889 in Briton
Ferry, Glamorgan, the son of George Valentine Perry and Mary
Jennett Perrett, who were married in 1883 in Neath.George Hugh Perry
Family
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| 1891 Census |
The 1891 Census records the Perry family residing in Briton Ferry, where the household was listed by initials. George Valentine, aged 32 and born in Hammersmith, worked as an Iron Merchant, while Mary Jennett, aged 29, was born in Canada. Their children were O. M. (6), attending school; G. H. (2); and J. A. (1). The family employed a domestic servant, Charlotte Perrett, aged 16.
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| 1901 Census |
By the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 9 Victoria Gardens, Briton Ferry. George Valentine, aged 42, continued as an Iron Merchant, and Mary Jennett, aged 39, managed the home. Their children were Charles W. (16), employed as a clerk in the iron trade; George H. (12); James A. (10); and Milly, aged 5. The family employed a servant, Elizabeth Tucker, aged 16.
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| 1911 Census |
By the 1911 Census, the Perrys had moved once more, this time to 112 Bryn Road, Swansea. George Valentine, now 52, was still an Iron Merchant, while Mary Jennett, aged 49, managed the household. Their children were Charles M. (26) and George H. (22), both assistants in the family business; James A. (20), an architect’s articled clerk; and Jennett L. A. (15), who was still at school. The family also employed a domestic servant, Elizabeth Ann Harring, aged 22.
Military Service
Following the outbreak of the First World War, George
Hugh Perry joined the Royal Field Artillery (RFA), one of the key
branches of the British Army responsible for providing mobile field gun support
to infantry divisions. His aptitude and reliability earned him a commission,
and he was eventually appointed Second Lieutenant with 9 Battery.
The RFA was a crucial component of the British Expeditionary
Force, operating medium-calibre field guns that provided indirect fire support
in offensive and defensive operations. Officers like George were tasked with
coordinating fire missions, calculating ranges and trajectories, and
maintaining communication with front-line observers—all while under the
constant threat of enemy bombardment.
Death
Second Lieutenant George Hugh Perry was killed in
action on 31st March 1918, during the early stages of the German
Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht), when German forces launched a
massive surprise attack along the Western Front. His death came amid the
heaviest fighting of that campaign, as British artillery units were forced into
desperate defensive actions to halt the German advance. He was 29 years old.
Burial
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| George Hugh Perry Varennes Military Cemetery credit - findagrave |
Historical Note – The Royal Field Artillery and the Spring Offensive of 1918
In March 1918, the German Army launched the Spring
Offensive (Operation Michael), a massive assault aimed at breaking
through the Allied lines before American reinforcements could arrive. The
attack began with an immense “hurricane” artillery barrage—over a million
shells fired in just five hours—targeting British guns, trenches, and
communication posts.
The Royal Field Artillery bore the brunt of this
onslaught. Many gun batteries were overrun or forced to withdraw under heavy
fire, yet they continued to provide defensive barrages and counter-battery fire,
slowing the German advance. Field artillery officers like George operated under
intense conditions, often without rest, directing fire from exposed positions
and coordinating support for hard-pressed infantry.
The courage and resilience of the RFA during this offensive
were instrumental in preventing a total breakthrough. George Hugh Perry’s death
on 31st March 1918 places him among those brave artillerymen
who held their ground during one of the most critical and dangerous periods of
the war.
Legacy
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| South Wales Daily Post |
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| South Wales Daily Post |
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| South Wales Daily Post |
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| South Wales Daily Post |
In the days following his death, the South Wales Daily
Post of 6th April 1918 published a photograph and
obituary in his memory. The following day, his family placed two further
notices in the same newspaper, paying tribute to a beloved son and brother
whose life was cut short in service.
Second Lieutenant George Hugh Perry is remembered on
the St. Paul’s war memorial, alongside comrades of every rank and
background. His service and sacrifice as an artillery officer during the German
Spring Offensive stand as a testament to the steadfastness, courage, and
devotion to duty of those who served in the Royal Field Artillery during
the Great War.
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