Rushden Soldier Victim Killed on the Balkan Front - Strange Premonition

Much sympathy is felt with Mrs N Perkins, of 51, High-street-south, Rushden, who has received news that her only son, Pte Sydney W Perkins, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was killed in action at the Balkan Front on Sept. 30th.

The official news is accompanied by the usual letter of sympathy form the King and Queen.

The late Pte Perkins was 21 years of age, and enlisted in the Northants Regt. on Oct. 22nd, 1914. Subsequently he transferred to the Highland Regt. above mentioned, and went with a draft to Salonika last Christmas. Prior to enlistment he was employed by Messrs. George Selwood and Co. As a lad he was of a studious disposition and very fond of school. He obtained one certificate for regular attendance, two more for reporting a lecture on alcohol, first prize drawing a map of Northants, and another first prize for a coloured drawing of a nettle. The latter prizes were awarded him by the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society when he was but 12 years of age.

In his last letter home written under date Sept. 26th, four days before his death, there occur some significant phrases. After asking for some articles he was in need of, he says "I will have to hurry up as we might all be killed by the Bulgars or die of starvation by when this reaches you.

"Something keeps telling me I am the wrong man in the wrong place. It seems only wasting life away here, but I hope it will finish shortly and we shall be together once again."

In Memoriam

Perkins:- Private Walter Sidney Perkins, 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who was killed in action, on the Balkan Front on Sept. 30th, 1916, aged 21 years, the only son of Mrs M Perkins, of 51 High-street-south, Rushden.