Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Battle of the Somme’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal S. R. Perkins, Devonshire Regiment, who was wounded during the latter stages of the Battle

Military Medal, G.V.R. (8700 Cpl. S. R. Perkins. 8/Devon:R:); 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (8700 Pte. S. R. Perkins. Devon. R.); British War and Victory Medals (8700 Cpl. S. R. Perkins. Devon. R.) edge bruise to first, worn, therefore fine (4) £300-£400

M.M. London Gazette 10 August 1916

Samuel Richard Perkins was born in 1886 in Tavistock. He attested for the Devonshire Regiment in May 1908 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion in October 1908, serving with them in Crete from January 1909 to July 1909, and in Malta from July 1909 to January 1912, at which time the Battalion was posted to Egypt and remained there until they returned England in September 1914. He served with them in France from 6 November 1914 and was wounded on 8 December 1914 and returned to England on 10 January 1915. He returned to his Battalion in France in April 1915, transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion in October 1915 and was promoted Corporal in November 1915. The edition of the London Gazette containing his M.M. announcement carried awards for May, June and July 1916. Perkins’ M.M. is almost certainly an award for the opening stages of the Battle for the Somme. He was listed among the wounded in a casualty list published on 11 October 1916 in the Western Times.