Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant R. A. Perssé, Rifle Brigade, attached 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, killed in action at Cuinchy on New Year’s Day 1915

1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut: R. A. Persse. Rif: Brig.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (2. Lieut. R. A. Persse.) all in their named card boxes of issue, together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Rodolph Algernon Persse) extremely fine (4) £400-500

Rodolph Algernon Perssé was the only son of the late Algernon Perssé and of the Hon. Mrs Perssé, only daughter of the late second Viscount Gough, of Lough Cutra Castle, Co. Galway. He was born at Roxborough, Co. Galway, on the 12th May, 1892, and was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he had just completed his second year on the outbreak of war.

He was given a commission in the Rifle Brigade on the 26th August, 1914, and joined the 6th Battalion at Sheerness for training. On the 16th October he proceeded to the front, and was ordered to join the 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 2nd Lieutenant Perssé was killed on New Year’s Day, 1915, during a night attack, and was buried at Cuinchy, near La Bassée. He was mentioned in Field-Marshal Sir John French’s Despatch of the 14th January, 1915.

A letter from his Commanding Officer gave the following details of the circumstances of 2nd Lieutenant Perssé’s death: “He had taken his platoon to attack a position early on the morning of 1st January, and after the position was taken it was found to be untenable, and the whole force was ordered back to their trenches. It was here that poor Perssé was killed. I had already submitted his name for his gallant behaviour near Ypres.”

Other brother Officers wrote of him: “What a splendid, brave, cool officer he was. He never flinched or wavered in his most gallant spirit, and his absolute fearlessness and pluck were grand, and were of the greatest value to his men. He will indeed be sadly missed, for he made himself so popular with all ranks.”

Another, writing of him, says: “He was, without exception, the bravest officer I have ever seen, and the best. His men would do anything for him. This is not only my own opinion, for I know that it was shared by every officer in the mess.”

Rodolph Perssé was a fine all-round athlete and a first-rate shot. He played in the Eton XI in July, 1911. At Oxford he did well in the Freshmen’s Sports of 1913: won the Magdalen Grind, rode in the Inter-Varsity Point-to-Point, and was Whip to the Magdalen Beagles.

The President of Magdalen wrote of him: “He is indeed a loss to us here, young and old. Among the first and bravest, he has given his all, even himself. His bright, vivid, daring, high-spirited, chivalrous personality had endeared him to us all.”

He is commemorated by name on the Le Touret Memorial. Sold with copied extracts from various Rolls of Honour, The Eton College Chronicle, regiment obituaries and correspondence file.